§ Mr. Couchmanasked the Secretary of State for Transport by what mechanism the Government plan to monitor the operation of the concession agreement with respect to the level of charges for the proposed fixed link to ensure that tunnel charges are not contrary to Her Majesty's Government's competition policy.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe Director General of Fair Trading has a duty to keep under review and collect information about commercial activities in the United Kingdom in order to fulfil his functions under competition legislation. In addition, under the terms of the concession agreement, the concessionaires will be required to notify the intergovernmental commission of their tariffs at least 15 days before they come into force.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport what study has been done by his Department to 202W determine whether there would be sufficient spare capacity on underground trains at the two rush hours to take the projected level of Channel fixed link travellers; and what allowance was made for the probability that most of the additional travellers would be carrying one or more pieces of luggage.
§ Mr. David MitchellBritish Rail has commissioned transport consultants to examine access by international travellers to and from Waterloo. It has also consulted London Regional Transport. BR believes that the underground lines serving Waterloo can accommodate this new traffic. Underground trains at Waterloo are most heavily loaded from 8 am to 9 am but levels are around a third down on 1973 and BR does not envisage international trains arriving at Waterloo during this peak hour. Luggage handling is clearly a matter that will need to be taken into account by the operators.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what study has been made by his Department of the effect of a single terminal for Channel fixed link trains at Waterloo on traffic on Westminster bridge road, Westminster bridge, York road, Stamford street, Waterloo bridge, the Strand underpass, Waterloo road, and Baylis road disaggregated by time of day, day of week, month, type of vehicle, and speed of journey;
(2) what arrangements will be made for private car, taxi, coach and other set-down and pick-up provision (a) within the station boundaries and (b) in the Waterloo area that is bounded by Lambeth road, Blackfriars road and the River Thames, as a result of the proposed Waterloo terminal for the Channel fixed link;
(3) what estimate he has of the effects of the proposed terminal at Waterloo of the Channel fixed link on existing parking facilities in the Waterloo area bounded by Lambeth road, Blackfriars road and the River Thames; what additional (a) on-street and (b) off-street parking provision will be introduced in the area for (i) coaches and (ii) other vehicles as a result; and whether this will be consequent on a survey of potential users;
(4) what information he has on the projected effects of a single central London terminal for Channel fixed link rail passengers upon traffic in the Waterloo area bounded by Lambeth road, Blackfriars road and the River Thames;
(5) what study has been made by his Department of the overall impact of all the additional vehicular traffic to be created by the proposed Channel tunnel terminal at Waterloo.
§ Mr. David MitchellBritish Rail's traffic consultants are assessing the numbers of private cars, taxis and coaches which will use Waterloo station when the new facilities are operational. They have identified a number of possible sites within the station area for parking and for setting down and picking up passengers. British Rail is discussing the possible impact on the local roads with Lambeth borough council.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will survey the attitudes of existing users of Waterloo to the proposed use of part of Waterloo station for passengers using the Channel fixed link and take account of the views expressed in formulating his policy towards the precise siting of the terminal;
(2) if he will undertake a study of the effects, broken down by time of day, day of week, and month, of the 203W proposed new Channel fixed link passenger services on (a) the existing southern region rail service in general and (b) the south London line in particular.
§ Mr. David MitchellThese are matters for British Rail. It is its normal procedure to explain new developments to its passengers and to the relevant transport users' consultative committees; and to invite their comments. It is also planning to undertake a major train planning exercise so that the new international services cause no disbenefit to existing passengers on Southern region.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what projections he has made, and based on what assumptions, of the number of rail passengers that would use the proposed Channel fixed link terminal at Waterloo at the commencement of the service, and in each of the 10 years thereafter;
(2) what is his estimate of the additional number of train journeys in and out of Waterloo which will be generated by Channel fixed link traffic, showing separately (a) late-night journeys, (b) early-morning journeys and (c) journeys to maintenance yards;
(3) what estimate he has of the expected number of Channel fixed link passengers who would use Waterloo east station by (a) time of day, (b) day of week and (c) month, in each of the first 10 years of operation of the new link.
§ Mr. David MitchellTraffic forecasts and service planning are matters for British Rail. Its proposals for through rail services are referred to in the consultation document it has sent to local authorities.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport what new track British Rail proposes to lay at Waterloo station for the proposed terminal for the Channel fixed link.
§ Mr. David MitchellBR plans to lay new track on the north side of Waterloo station for the platforms serving international trains.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport who is to (a) own and (b) manage the proposed terminal at Waterloo for the Channel fixed link.
§ Mr. David MitchellBritish Rail.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation he has made of the costs and benefits of integrating the Channel link train passenger traffic with services to Gatwick and Heathrow via Victoria.
§ Mr. David MitchellIt is for British Rail to plan services and to develop investment proposals.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information he as on the projected effects of a single central London terminal for Channel fixed link rail passengers over the following 10 years upon (a) the nature and costs of housing, (b) the level of hotel or hostel development, (c) shop rents and facilities and (d) the level of office development in the Waterloo area bounded by Lambeth road, Blackfriars road, and the River Thames;
(2) what estimate he has made of the effects of a single central London terminal for Channel fixed link rail 204W passengers at Waterloo upon the population by household size and age, in the Waterloo area bounded by Lambeth road, Blackfriars road and the River Thames;
(3) what estimates he has made of the effects of the decision to locate a single central London terminal for the Channel fixed link rail passengers at Waterloo on the demand for housing, hotel and other use on the Waterloo area bounded by Lambeth road, Blackfriars road and the River Thames during the period of construction.
§ Mr. David MitchellThese are matters for the local planning authority; BR is consulting them about its proposals. BR has met the authority and is providing them with appropriate information.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of staffing requirements for the transport police as a result of increased traffic flow generated by passengers arriving at Waterloo on trains using the Channel fixed link.
§ Mr. David MitchellNone. British Transport police staffing requirements are a matter for the British Transport Police committee.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will request British Rail to revise its consultation document of 27 January so as to include specific costings.
§ Mr. David MitchellIt is not British Rail's normal practice to provide this information in consultation documents and I see no reason to ask it to do so on this occasion.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will ask British Rail to publish its response to representations made by the London borough of Lambeth and local residents concerning the use of Waterloo station as the London terminal of the Channel fixed link.
§ Mr. David MitchellThis is a matter for BR.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to seek to remove from the London borough of Lambeth the power to control developments arising from the proposed use of Waterloo station as the London terminal for the Channel fixed link.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe Government have no such plans except to the extent that development by British Rail or the operational use of its land will be included in the hybrid Bill.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he intends to oblige British Rail to take to reduce the noise and environmental impact of the proposed Waterloo terminal of the Channel fixed link.
§ Mr. David MitchellI know that British Rail will take all reasonable measures to reduce noise and environmental impacts but I do not intend to impose any special obligations on it on these matters. Individuals or bodies affected by any noise or environmental nuisance will be able to make representations to the local authority or to a magistrates' court under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 or the Public Health Act 1936 in the normal way.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received an application from British Rail for works to be carried out in Stewart's lane in the vicinity of Waterloo station.
205W
§ Mr. David MitchellBR is considering the local planning authority about these works. Authority will be sought for them in the hybrid Bill.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has of the total cost of widening the viaduct at Carlisle lane.
§ Mr. David MitchellBritish Rail estimates the cost of widening the viaduct from the station to Carlisle lane would be around £13 million.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the form and scope of the intended consultations on British Rail's arrangements for a Channel fixed link terminal and on the identity of those who will conduct them.
§ Mr. David MitchellBritish Rail has prepared a consultation document which includes information about its proposal to develop facilities for international travellers at Waterloo station. British Rail is consulting and meeting the relevant local authorities, and it intends to meet local residents as well. British Rail's director, Channel tunnel, is acting on behalf of the board in these consultations.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has of the total cost of all alterations and additions that British Rail wish to make within the boundary of Waterloo station in connection with the proposed Channel fixed link terminal.
§ Mr. David MitchellBritish Rail at present envisages that it will need to spend up to around £45 million at Waterloo station on work to provide new international passenger services.
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what studies he has made of possible terminals for (a) day passenger, (b) sleeper and (c) freight traffic generated by the Channel fixed link;
(2) what studies he has made of the effects of dispersing Channel fixed link traffic to several terminals in the London area;
(3) what role was played by commercial or economic costs in deciding upon the Waterloo terminal for the Channel fixed link;
(4) what account was taken, in considering which of the central London terminals might be suitable as a terminal for cross-Channel passengers, of the results of detailed studies of land use in the central London sections of the inner London boroughs potentially affected.
§ Mr. David MitchellIt is for British Rail to propose the location of its London terminus facilities for through services to the continent and to consult affected interests. The necessary approval will be given by the hybrid Bill. British Rail has examined 13 potential sites and has concluded that the most practical solution is to develop a single passenger terminus at Waterloo and to use its depot at Willesden for through freight operations. It is aware that all its capital expenditure on through rail services must be on a strictly commercial basis.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the roads infrastructure in the north of England, especially that part servicing ports, is rapidly improved to ensure that the north is in no way disadvantaged by increased investment in roads in the south-east planned in connection with the projected Channel fixed link.
206W
§ Mr. RidleyImproved national road links to the Channel ports are necessary in order to meet increasing traffic needs irrespective of whether the fixed link is built. The needs of national roads throughout the country and our priorities for expenditure are regularly reviewed. Allocation of resources for new local authority roads are, similarly, based on the needs of traffic. I take great care to see that the north-west is not "disadvantaged".