§ 2.42 p.m.
§ Lord GainfordMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of railway track will be electrified when all schemes so far approved are completed.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)My Lords, once the present schemes have been completed, British Rail will have a total of 7,049 electrified track miles, excluding sidings. This represents 36 per cent. of the total network.
§ Lord GainfordMy Lords, my noble friend has given an impressive figure. Has he any information as to when travellers will be able to enjoy the electrification of the east coast line between London and Edinburgh?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, yes. Work on the east coast main line between London and Edinburgh is ahead of schedule at the moment. There should be no problem in meeting our target of the London to Leeds service in 1989 and the London to Edinburgh service in 1991. Full electric services to Huntingdon and Peterborough will start in May.
§ Lord MellishMy Lords, those figures are very good. However, may we have an assurance that the moment we have a fall of snow and frost all that will not stop?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, the chances of the trains stopping will be a great deal less when the electrification scheme has progressed further than was the case before.
§ Lord FerrierMy Lords, will the Minister agree that if it were not for the commitments and the expenditure already incurred by British Rail over the Channel Tunnel, there might be a possibility of infinitely more electrification?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, no, I would not agree with my noble friend, as I shall attempt to explain later on this afternoon. All proposals put forward by British Rail must meet the investment criteria laid down, and they are all judged on their merits.
§ Lord UnderhillMy Lords, will the Minister say whether or not any schemes put forward by British Rail have been rejected, and whether or not any schemes are still awaiting approval?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, in the past three years no proposals submitted to Ministers have been turned down. As regards schemes awaiting consideration, there is the Royston to Cambridge section, which has recently been received by my right honourable friend, and he will be making a decision on that as soon as possible. I believe that that scheme is the only one at present before us.
§ Lord Carmichael of KelvingroveMy Lords, will the Minister take on board the importance of keeping together the gangs and teams who are involved in electrification work? I ask this, bearing in mind the potential export value involved. If teams are broken up it is also difficult to get them back together again. If it is possible, will the Government encourage British Rail always to keep some electrification, however small, in progress? This would be of great benefit.
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, that is mainly a matter for British Rail. There are a considerable number of projects in train at the moment; and, as I have said, the east coast main line project will be carrying on until 1991. However, British Rail may put forward other proposals before that date.
§ Lady Saltoun of AbernethyMy Lords, will the Minister say whether and when it is proposed to electrify the line from Edinburgh to Aberdeen?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, I am not aware that a proposal for that line has been put forward. However, I shall certainly look into that matter.
§ Lord LeatherlandMy Lords, will the Government bear in mind that in the event of war, any Channel tunnel will make a very easy target for an enemy?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, that question is very far wide of the Question on the Order Paper, and no doubt it is one which will be raised later on today.
§ Lord SomersMy Lords, is there any possibility that the whole of the electrified scheme will have the same voltage? Also, is there any possibility that the Southern Region will be converted to the overhead system instead of having the system using a third rail? As no doubt the noble Lord is aware, the third rail is put out of action the moment that there is the slightest fall of snow or frost.
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, as regards converting the Southern Region to overhead cable, that would be a major project which would not only be extremely expensive but would also cause a good deal of inconvenience and difficulty while it was taking place.