HC Deb 19 April 1967 vol 745 cc569-71
11. Mr. Galbraith

asked the Minister of Transport on what criteria it was decided to exclude the grey lines from the basic railway network on the recently published map.

Mrs. Castle

The grey lines are those which, on present evidence, do not meet the requirements for a basic rail system described in paragraph 19 of the White Paper on Transport Policy, Cmnd. 3057. As stated in the foreword to the map, this does not mean that a decision has been taken to close them. Any passenger closure proposal will continue to be dealt with under the provisions of Section 56 of the Transport Act, 1962.

Mr. Galbraith

Why divide these railway lines into these two colours—grey and white? Why not let them both go through the procedure, and why, in particular, has the right hon. Lady decided that the Kyle of Lochalsh line, which was reprieved by my right hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Mr. Marples), is now in the grey category, and is at risk again? Why is this so?

Mrs. Castle

The reason for having a distinction between grey and black is on the principles outlined in the White Paper. There is a clear case now for the retention of the black lines on the map. As for the grey, they will not necessarily be closed, but circumstances change, and that is the answer about the Kyle of Lochalsh. Circumstances may change which necessitate us having a look at the position before the line is included for stabilisation and development.

Mr. David Steel

Is the right hon. Lady aware that it was perhaps unfortunate that the grey lines were used to depict both those lines which had had services withdrawn and those which were still under consideration, and that this led to quite a lot of misunderstanding? I am thinking of lines on the borders, of branch lines which had been closed being in the same category as lines in respect of which a decision was still awaited.

Mrs. Castle

The grey lines certainly included some which were in the machine of consideration, but not those which had been closed.

Mr. Galbraith

Can the right hon. Lady say what changes occurred during the last two or three years which made her place the Kyle of Lochalsh line in the grey category?

Mrs. Castle

These are the very matters for which examination is required. I want to impress on the House that the black lines represent a new concept, namely, that we see these making up a network which should be stabilised and accepted for development. As the grey lines go through the examination period, some of them may be added to the basic network map. When one is talking about stability and developing two new and encouraging concepts, one has to examine carefully the lines which are included.

Mr. Ronald Atkins

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that it would be inconsistent of the Government to close the Kyle of Lochalsh line if at the same time they were pumping money for development into the Highlands?

Mrs. Castle

Questions of future development in the area are among those taken into consideration in the examination, and the views of the planning councils, and of all the Departments concerned, as well as of the T.U.C.C., are sought and taken into consideration with great care.