§ Mr. Robin F. Cookasked the Secretary of State for Transport what studies have been undertaken into the feasibility of transferring London orbital road traffic to rail.
§ Mr. William RodgersThere have been a number of studies of orbital rail routes, including the London Rail Study, published in 1974. British Rail has a scheme for linking its North London Line to the484W North Woolwich line anti the GLC has proposals for extending this route by building a tunnel under the Thames to Woolwich Arsenal. However, I am satisfied that improvements to the rail system could neither cater adequately for essential industrial traffic nor prevent traffic which is crossing or skirting London from continuing to use unsuitable and congested roads.