Lord Berkeleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the expected capital cost of moving the Eurostar maintenance facilities from North Pole to Temple Mills in London; and who would be responsible for the costs of such a move. [HL50]
8WA
§ The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston)Under the current proposals the construction of the new facility would be phased, with the first phase being ready for the opening of the whole Channel Tunnel Rail Link in 2007. The construction cost of the first phase is estimated to be about £140 million, but further work is in hand to refine the estimates. Discussions are currrently underway beween the parties about how the costs will be borne and financed.
Lord Berkeleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment has been done of the costs and benefits of moving the Eurostar maintenance facilities from North Pole to Temple Mills in London, and compared with creating a small stabling siding at Temple Mills and undertaking most maintenance at Paris or Brussels. [HL51]
§ Lord Macdonald of TradestonAn assessment of the costs and benefits of various potential solutions has been carried out and it has been concluded that the optimum technical and economic solution is a phased development of new facilities at Temple Mills.
This assessment took account of the fact that the stabling, servicing and light maintenance facilities need to be located as near as possible to St Pancras in order to support the daily operation of the train services.
Lord Berkeleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Who financed the creation of a new refuelling facility for EWS Railway at Temple Mills; why it was necessary; how much it cost; and what was the date of opening. [HL52]
§ Lord Macdonald of TradestonThe EWS refuelling facility at Stratford had to be moved to make way for the ongoing construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. It was relocated at Temple Mills under the terms of an undertaking given by Viscount Goschen to the Select Committee of this House that considered the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill. The undertaking required the Secretary of State to ensure that land is made available on the Stratford Railway Lands (including Temple Mills) for EWS' refuelling point. The move was financed by Union Railways (North) Ltd, the nominated undertaker for the construction of this part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. The estimated capital cost of moving the refuelling facility is around £1 million; it came into operation at the beginning of July 2001.
Lord Berkeleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why they imposed a compulsory purchase notice on EWS Railway's new refuelling facility at Temple Mills on the date that it opened; what alternative refuelling arrangements will be provided and where; and what are the total estimated costs of such a further move. [HL53]
§ Lord Macdonald of TradestonCompulsory purchase notices, (Notices to Treat, stating that the 9WA land would be required) were served on 14 December on the land on which a new refuelling facility had opened at the beginning of July 2001. This was because it had become clear that part of this land was required for servicing and maintaining Eurostar trains earlier than anticipated. The refuelling facility may not need to be relocated until about 2020, but it will remain on an appropriate site on the Stratford lands including Temple Mills, in accordance with an undertaking given by Viscount Goschen to the Select Committee to this House that considered the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill. It is estimated that such a move may cost in the order of £2 million.