§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Transport what capital expenditure he has authorised for new railway stations 98W in North Staffordshire; and whether this includes the modernisation of Stoke-on-Trent station.
§ Mr. MarplesThe British Transport Commission has not put to me any proposals for capital investment in new railway stations in North Staffordshire. It tells me that, in connection with the London Midland electrification scheme, it has allocated about £120,000 for improvements to stations on the Staffordshire and Cheshire sections of the North Staffordshire railway line. It also tells me that the London Midland Region is considering plans for modernising Stoke-on-Trent station.
§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Transport what capital expenditure has been authorised for the electrification of the North Staffordshire railway line; whether such expenditure includes the Crewe—Kidsgrove line, the main line by-pass of the Harecastle Tunnel, and the North Staffordshire loop line; and when it is expected that electrification will be completed.
§ Mr. MarplesElectrification of the North Staffordshire line is part of the London Midland Region electrification scheme which I approved as a whole.
The British Transport Commission tells me that it has so far authorised expenditure of £5,142,100 for works and plant for electrification between Cheadle Hulme and Kidsgrove Central and between Stoke-on-Trent and Colwich. Electrification of the North Staffordshire line will involve the provision of a main line by-pass for the Harecastle tunnels. It should be completed in 1966. The total cost is estimated at £8,200,000.
I understand that the Commission has no plans for electrifying either the Crewe—Kidsgrove line or the North Staffordshire loop line.