In the House of Lords, Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat) has asked the Government whether it would consider substituting bus services at less busy times for passenger train services, in order to release capacity to operate more freight trains.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, responded: “The specification and provision of rail replacement services is a commercial and operational matter for the operator and Network Rail.
“If a proposal were to be brought forward by the rail operator and Network Rail, we would consider this matter carefully. No proposal has however been submitted.”
