HL Deb 26 November 1987 vol 490 cc729-31

3.5 p.m.

Lord Gainford

My 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 the railways are at present being electrified, and what is the projected timetable for future schemes, including that between London and Edinburgh.

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 7,523 electrified track miles. This represents 38 per cent. of the total network. There are five schemes in progress: the North London line, due to be completed next month; Bournemouth to Weymouth, Royston to Cambridge, and Watford to St. Albans, all due to be completed during 1988; and the east coast main line from London to Edinburgh, due to be completed in May, 1991.

Lord Gainford

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for giving those encouraging figures. The point that I wished to raise as a supplementary question was asked last week as a result of the Question of my noble friend Lord Stodart. Adding to what was said in that occasion, has the Minister any information that could encourage the north-east of England, my old homeland?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, progress on the east coast main line is ahead of schedule. There should be no problem in meeting the target, on the London to Leeds service, of August 1988, a year earlier than planned, and on the London to Edinburgh service, of 1991. Full electric service from London to Huntington and Peterborough started in May, slightly ahead of schedule.

Lady Saltoun of Abernethy

My Lords, is there any prospect of the line from Edinburgh to Aberdeen being electrified?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, it is for British Rail to put forward proposals to the Government for future electrification. The Government have received no such proposal from British Rail.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, although the progress about which the Minister has spoken is encouraging, would not the position be better but for two financial aspects? Is it not the case that investment in BR for the next five years is estimated to be an average of £600 million per annum, whereas in 1982 the plan was for investment at the rate of £800 million per annum? Is it also not the case that during the period 1982 to 1985 the under-spend of the expenditure limit was no less than £332 million? If those two items had not existed, would not faster progress have been made?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, since this Government have been in office we have turned down no proposals by British Rail for schemes of this kind. As regards electrification, which is the subject of this Question, between 1974 and 1979 an average of £41 million a year was spent at today's prices. Since 1979 an average of £72 million has been spent at today's prices.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

My Lords, when the new long-distance electrified trains are in operation, will they have as good facilities for the disabled as the 125 trains?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, yes, I think that we can be confident of that. As the noble Baroness will be aware, British Rail makes special efforts to cater for disabled people and a member of the board looks after this matter.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, wearing my Welsh hat, I should like to ask the noble Lord why the claims of the beautiful and important line from Chester along the north Wales coast to Anglesey, thence by sea to Dublin, have been overlooked? Given the list that the Minister has read, is that not far more important than anything he has mentioned?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, that would of course be a matter for British Rail. I am sure that the noble Lord is more aware than I am of the situation on that line but, so far as the Government are concerned, I understand that no proposal has been put forward by British Rail for electrification of that particular line.

Lord Gisborough

My Lords, can my noble friend give any indication of the economic benefits arising from electrification and also the benefit to passengers in terms of pricing and speed?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

Certainly, my Lords, there are good economic benefits from electrification. It should also result in slightly improved journey times, greater reliability and more comfort for passengers.

Lord Ferrier

My Lords, I understand that the sleeper service between London and Edinburgh is being diverted over the west coast route. Is that a temporary measure while the east coast route is being electrified or is it intended that it should become a permanency?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I answered a Question on that subject not very long ago. So far as I understand from British Rail, it is proposed that from next year the trains will be using the west coast route from Euston to Edinburgh and I understand that it will be a permanent measure.

Lord Teviot

My Lords, can my noble friend tell the House something about timetables? He has mentioned journey times. What improvements will there be on the 125 train which is now running between London and Edinburgh?

Lord Brabazon of Tara

My Lords, I understand it is hoped that when electrification is completed the journey time between London and Edinburgh, which is currently four hours 40 minutes, will be reduced to about four hours; in other words, there will be a reduction of about 40 minutes.