asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether in the interim period before the letting of a new franchise for the east coast main line there will be any significant changes to the timetable and services to passengers; and whether the programme of refurbishment and upgrading of the InterCity 125 diesel trains which operate on that service will continue as planned. [HL997]

The only significant changes to the timetable and services to passengers in the interim period before the letting of the new franchise for the east coast main line will be, subject to Office of the Rail Regulator approval, the introduction of a new half hourly Leeds-London service from May 2007.

For passengers and staff, this means that services will continue to operate as usual, tickets will be valid and passengers can book and reserve tickets in exactly the same way they do today.

The HST (high-speed train, Class 125) refurbishment programme is ongoing and will continue under the management contract.