Written Question: Train Maintenance Costs

Lord Moylan: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Office of Rail and Road's finding in the Rolling Stock Maintenance Market Review interim report, published on 29 October, that changing rolling stock maintenance arrangements can deliver annual savings of around 30 per cent without an observable deterioration in performance; and what steps they are taking to identify similar savings across publicly owned train operators.

Minister of State, Department for Transport (Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, CBE):

The Government welcomes the Office of Rail and Road’s Rolling Stock Maintenance Market Review interim report and its focus on improving transparency, competition and value for money. The report demonstrates that changes to maintenance arrangements can generate significant savings without adversely affecting performance, but the opportunities and appropriate approach will vary between fleets and contracts and need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The Department and DfT Operator Limited will take the findings of the review into account when considering maintenance arrangements across publicly owned operators, including opportunities to secure better value for money as contracts are renewed. We will also consider the Office of Rail and Road’s final recommendations, which are expected in March 2027.