To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the reasons are for his decision to (a) award a 12 month franchise extension and (b) offer a potential two year additional direct award to GWR.

The reasons for this decision are set out in the Great Western Rail Franchise consultation document published on 29 November (in particular, the Executive Summary and paragraphs 3.11 to 3.14), available at www.gov.uk/dft.

The principal reasons are to ensure that passengers get the best possible service while the current and forthcoming transformational upgrades to the Great Western franchise area are carried out, and to allow the enhanced service to bed in fully before running a competition for a new long-term franchise. This short period of “bedding in” will help to ensure that the next franchise competition attracts ambitious bids that deliver the best outcomes for passengers through the 2020s.