Rail Electrification (Hansard, 2 May 1990)

§ 2. Mr. Strang
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met ScotRail to discuss rail electrification in Scotland.

§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Malcolm Rifkind)
My hon. Friend and I discussed electrification and various other topics relating to rail transport when we met the former general manager of ScotRail, Mr. Ellis, arid the former chairman of British Rail, Sir Robert Reid, on 31 October last year.

§ Mr. Strang
Will the Secretary of State acknowledge that, whatever claims are made for the new class 158 trains which are coming into service on the Edinburgh-Glasgow line, there is no escaping the fact that electrification is needed if we are to have the most modern inter-city service in Scotland? Is he aware that the position is becoming urgent because the electrification programme on the Carstairs line comes to an end later this year, so the Government must intervene to ensure that a start is made 1015 on the Edinburgh-Glasgow and Edinburgh-Aberdeen electrification programmes before that scheme is disbanded?

§ Mr. Rifkind
As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, electrification is essentially a matter for British Rail to ecide. He will share my pleasure that the east coast line is nearing completion and that British Rail has various other forms of major investment in the Edinburgh-Glasgow route, which will no doubt be of great value to his constituents as well as mine who use those commuter services. British Rail is in the best position to judge whether it should be express units or electrification, and whether the necessary investment would be appropriate.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that British Rail is proposing to withdraw one of the two Aberdeen to London sleeper services? That decision has been taken without proper consultation, and the timing of it has been for convenience of handling at Euston and not for the needs of passengers in Aberdeen. That leads many of us to worry about British Rail's commitment to the east coast line, particularly when it is so reluctant to consider the electrification programme seriously.

§ Mr. Rifkind
I am naturally concerned at what my right hon. Friend has said. I understand that British Rail may be proposing to combine two overnight trains, putting sleeping and sitting passengers together on the one train. I know that my right hon. Friend will be pursuing this matter to protect the interests of his constituents. We shall ascertain from British Rail what it is proposing to do and why it feels that it is appropriate.

§ Mr. Wilson
We understand from ScotRail that it is prepared to consider electrification of the Glasgow-Edinburgh line. Will the Scottish Office for once enter with some constructive spirit into the subject of rail services in Scotland, and particularly electrification? Will the Secretary of State use whatever diminished influence he has to get rid of the absurd 8 per cent. per annum investment criteria which deter ScotRail from undertaking schemes which have a social and environmental justification even if they do not have that excessive financial justification? What is the Scottish Office doing about the advent of the channel tunnel and the now imminent prospect of Scotland being further isolated and disadvantaged because electrification and top-level high speed rail services will not extend into Scotland? Is there any Scottish Office strategy on the channel tunnel?

§ Mr. Rifkind
I share the hon. Gentleman's enthusiasm for rail travel, and I am looking forward next Wednesday to declaring open the new bridge over the River Ness, which shows British Rail's continuing commitment to the north of Scotland and to the real requirements of those who live there. I agree with the hon. Gentleman about the importance of ensuring that British Rail carries out the necessary investment to ensure that Scotland gets the full benefit of the channel tunnel. Not only the Scottish Office but the Government as a whole are anxious to ensure that all parts of the United Kingdom north of London share in the benefits that the channel tunnel will provide.