§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the level of public investment which has so far been spent on the electrification of the railway route from St. Pancras to Bedford; whether the work has been completed; when the service will begin; what is the reason for the delay; and whether he proposes to allocate fun her investment funds while present difficulties persist.
§ Mr. David HowellThe most recent estimate made by the railways board of the total cost of modernising and electrifying the London-to-Bedford railway line is £153½ million at mid-1981 prices. Almost 40 per cent. of this figure is for work on re-signalling and track and route improvements which will also benefit diesel hauled intercity and freight traffic.
Electrification of the line from Moorgate to Bedford through Kings Cross Midland station is now complete. Work on the link from Kentish Town into St. Pancras is due for completion in October this year. The start of the electric service is being delayed because the board has been unable to reach agreement with the trade unions over the one-man operation of the new electric trains built for this line. Until agreement is reached and necessary driver training subsequently carried out, no date for the start of the service can be given.
Our readiness to approve future investment will depend on several things, including improvements in productivity.