questionText: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's News story of 19 September 2023 entitled Avanti West Coast awarded long-term contract after significant improvements for passengers, whether there was a (a) requirement to award and (b) formal tender process for that contract.
answerText: When considering its available options, the Department assessed these against the relevant criteria. Open competition was considered but was unviable due to time available and market conditions, and it would not have been possible to deliver a contract wh...
heading: Avanti West Coast: Contracts