§ 27. Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment at what distance from central London he estimates the advanced passenger train, travelling 496 via the Channel Tunnel, will provide quicker city-centre service than travel from London by air.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsI regret that at present no worthwhile estimates can be made.
§ Mr. AdleyIs my hon. Friend aware that I was given a recent answer to the effect that the travel time from central London to the centre of Paris via the Channel Tunnel and the advanced passenger train amounted to 2 hours and 40 minutes as opposed to 3¾ hours by air from Heathrow and a likely longer period from Foulness? Is he further aware that at the moment 24 per cent. of flights from Heathrow are flights of under300 miles and 38 per cent. of flights are less than 500 miles? Would he agree that much of this traffic is susceptible to direct competition from fast trains? Is he still convinced that we need four 19,000 feet runways at Foulness, with the Channel Tunnel being planned nearby?
§ Mr. GriffithsI admire my hon. Friend's careful research, but I assure him that the interaction between the tunnel and the new third London airport is being carefully studied in my Department.