Rail Franchises

Chris Grayling
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish (a) the cost benefit analysis and (b) the appraisal summary table taking account of the five objectives outlined in the New Approach to Appraisal prepared by his Department prior to the (i) award of the Greater Western franchise, (ii) award of the South Western Trains franchise and (iii) specification for the new Cross Country franchise.

Mr. Tom Harris
In respect of the Greater Western and South Western franchises, the Department for Transport determined the value for money case for the specification at the stage prior to issuing the Invitation to Tender (ITT) to bidders. This includes the preparation of cost-benefit analysis tables, and an assessment of the wider benefits. Therefore, the information does not exist in the form that has been requested at the award stage.

The bids for the New Cross Country franchise have been submitted and are currently under evaluation. At the point of awarding the franchise, the Department will review whether the value proposed by the leading bidder to deliver the specification outputs exceeds that prepared at the time of the issue of the ITT.