British Rail Stations (Hansard, 23 June 1988)

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, 25 stations have been reopened by British Rail during this time.

§ Lord Gainford
My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that concise Answer. Has he information to to how many stations British Rail plans to reopen within the next year or so, and whether there are plans for any new stations to be opened?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I understand British Rail has plans to reopen or open a further 60 stations over the next three years. The House might like to know that 77 new stations have been opened since 1979.

§ Lord Underhill
My Lords, will the Minister say what part Section 20 grants by the passenger 917 transport authorities have played either in the opening of new stations or in the reopening of old stations? I mention the new procedure. The reopening of stations which have been closed no longer means going through a complicated process. Has this assisted the reopening of stations?

§ Viscount Davidson
Yes, my Lords. I can confirm both of those facts. The decision to open or reopen a station is a management matter for British Rail. The only criterion the Government operate is that any new station or service should not place an additional call on the PSO; that is, it should not be a burden on the taxpayer.

§ Lord Broxbourne
My Lords, does the Minister agree that whatever the importance of the reopening of stations, there is a prior importance in the clearing up and improvement of existing stations of which the nearby Victoria station is a notorious example?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I travel from Victoria, and I find that each week it has improved. Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos: My Lords, will the Minister say how many of the 25 stations to which he has referred are in Wales? Will he further confirm that the station of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgoger-y Chwyrndrobwll-Llantysiliogogogoch is open and will remain open?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I can confirm that that particular station is still there. I have a list of the 25 stations which reopened. Without being able to pronounce them, I can certainly see that Blaenau Ffestiniog has reopened. The last one on the list is Ynyswen which I presume must be in Wales.

The Earl of Stockton
My Lords, can my noble friend the Minister tell the House whether there is any danger that the railway station at Stockton-on-Tees is to be closed? This is, after all, probably the most famous railway station in the United Kingdom.

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I take note of my noble friend's interest in that station. I am afraid that I shall have to write to him on that point.

§ Viscount Mountgarret
My Lords, while hearing with gratitude the news of the number of stations being reopened, I should like to ask the Minister whether he is able to confirm that stations will not then be closed down thereby negating the good work done, particularly in the Settle and Carlisle areas.

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I have a note on that but I cannot find it. Closure only takes place if a station has become uneconomic. Since 1979, British Rail has closed 32 stations.