§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made any calculations of journey times for a return trip, including station stops for the operation of the Settle-Carlisle section of British Rail under a light railway order with a 25 mph speed limit; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellNo. It is for any potential new operator of this line to decide what service to offer and what form of statutory operating authority to seek for it. Operating the line as a light railway is only one of a number of options.
§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has held with the railways inspectorate regarding any safety criteria for the private and separate operation of the Settle-Carlisle section of British Rail; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellThere has been no need for consultations with the railway inspectorate. The safety criteria which would be applied if the Settle to Carlisle railway were to be privately and separately operated are those which are applied to any statutory railway in this country.