Electrical Multiple Units (Hansard, 1 December 1982)

§ 1. Mr. Stoddart
asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average age of electrical multiple units running on the third rail system on British Rail lines.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Reginald Eyre)
Just under 20 years.

§ Mr. Stoddart
Is the Minister aware that many of those units, especially the ones on the Brighton line, are dilapidated and urgently need refurbishing? Is he further aware that the Swindon railway workshops were promised a 10-year rolling programme to refurbish the EMUs on the Brighton line but are now unable to do so because of restrictions on the external financing limit? Will he do the commuters on the Brighton line a favour by extending the external financing limit so that we can get on with the work?

§ Mr. Eyre
I note with sympathy the hon. Gentleman's point about Swindon. He will appreciate that it is for British Rail to decide on its refurbishment programme. Refurbishment is extremely beneficial to those vehicles and produces one that is as attractive as a new one to passengers.
The hon. Gentleman must understand that Government support to British Rail is now at the highest level ever. In those circumstances, it is for British Rail to make the best use of its resources for carrying out improvements of the type for which he asks.

§ Mr. John Wells
Is my hon. Friend aware of the great problems of all commuters in the Southern region, especially those travelling on the mid-Kent and Maidstone lines? Is he aware that modernised rolling stock would make commuters' journeys more comfortable? May we be assured of some early progress?

§ Mr. Eyre
I understand and sympathise with my hon. Friend's point about commuters' problems. He will be encouraged to know that the programme of refurbishing vehicles that run on the third rail system applies with special benefit in Kent, where that system operates. I hope, therefore, that his constituents who are travellers will find their conditions of travel much improved by the refurbishing programme.

§ Mr. Adley
Will my hon. Friend confirm that he accepts that the running of commuter services is part of the social fabric of the country, that if British Rail does not do it nobody will, and that that would place an intolerable burden on the roads? On that basis, does he agree that the public purse has an obligation to keep the units as modern and as efficient as possible?

§ Mr. Eyre
I accept all the terms of my hon. Friend's question. He is right to emphasise the importance of those matters to commuters. They are never out of our minds in the Department.

§ Mr. Joseph Dean
Is the Minister aware that a recently published report shows that while railway systems in most major industrial nations are expanding, ours is contracting?

§ Mr. Eyre
Yes, but the hon. Gentleman must take account of the reasons for the financial problems of the British Railways Board. They are created by a loss of traffic and are aggravated by senseless and irresponsible strikes. Government support is at the highest level ever, but it is for British Rail to settle the problems of industrial disputes and move towards modern working practices that will make good use of investment.