HC Deb 25 November 1996 vol 286 cc15-6
13. Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sums his Department has invested in (a) the west coast and (b) the east coast lines in the past three years. [4014]

Mr. Watts

Railtrack is responsible for investment in rail infrastructure and has confirmed that investment in the west coast main line for each of the financial years since 1994 totals £168.6 million. It plans to spend £1.35 billion to renew the core infrastructure and is prepared to spend an additional £150 million on a passenger upgrade. The east coast line was upgraded in 1991–92 at a cost of £550 million. Railtrack has not, therefore, had to inject major investment subsequently.

Mr. Cunningham

As the west coast main line is of strategic national importance, will the Minister assure the House that it will be given a full upgrade to ensure maximum efficiency?

Mr. Watts

The £1.35 billion core investment programme and the £150 million upgrade programme announced and agreed by Railtrack shows the high priority that is given to this nationally significant route.

Mr. Devlin

As a regular traveller on the east coast main line, may I tell my hon. Friend how pleased I was that the punctuality of trains has improved dramatically since it was privatised and taken over by Great North Eastern? A much wider and better range of services is available for passengers on the east coast main line, which is yet another benefit of privatisation.

Mr. Watts

My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the substantial improvement in services provided by Great North Eastern.

Mr. Bradley

When will work to upgrade the west coast main line begin? Will the Minister assure us that it will be a full upgrade and not just a modernisation of the line, and that it will include the feeder lines—such as the Northampton to Birmingham line—into the west coast main line? Will he also assure us that the infrastructure will be fully developed to ensure the maximum use of freight on projects such as piggyback? When will he announce which franchisee will operate the line?

Mr. Watts

Contracts to develop signalling systems have already been let and are central to the core investment programme. It is expected that physical works on the upgrade will begin early in the new year. It would be premature for me to announce the identity of the franchisee; the announcement will be made in the usual way by the franchising director. The hon. Gentleman will have heard my right hon. Friend say that Railtrack has not yet concluded its work on identifying the possibilities for freight upgrading on the line.