Birmingham cross-city Railway (Hansard, 6 June 1989)

§ Mr. Snape
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has seen and commented upon a draft proposal from British Rail to electrify the Birmingham cross-city railway line; on how many occasions the matter has been discussed between his Department and British 113W Rail; which points of clarification have been sought by his Department; and when he expects British Rail to submit a formal investment proposal.

§ Mr. Portillo
Department of Transport officials have seen and commented upon a draft proposal from British Rail to electrify the Birmingham cross-city railway line and have had two meetings with British Rail to discuss it. The Department is currently awaiting clarification of various issues concerning the forecast net benefit of electrification costs. I expect British Rail to submit a formal investment proposal shortly.

§ Mr. Snape
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date discussions took place between his Department and British Rail about the proposed electrification of the Birmingham cross-city railway line; whether such discussions are likely to lead to a formal investment proposal; whether any further work which British Rail has to do on the proposals arose as a result of informal discussion between the two parties; and what information he has on the extent of local interest in the possibility of converting the cross-city line into a Metro line.

§ Mr. Portillo
Informal discussions between Department of Transport officials and British Rail about the proposed electrification of the Birmingham cross-city railway line took place on 5 January 1989 and 21 April 1989. British Rail has further work to do on the proposal as a result of these discussions and is planning to make a formal investment proposal. Although the possibility of converting the cross-city line into a Metro line was raised in connection with the Birmingham integrated transportation study, I understand that it is not now being pursued as part of that study.

§ Mr. Snape
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he expects British Rail to set out when submitting an investment proposal to him regarding the electrification of the Birmingham cross-city railway line.

§ Mr. Portillo
We expect British Rail to demonstrate that the proposed electrification would represent better value for money than other options, in particular providing a modern diesel service.

§ Mr. Nellist
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department intends to take the decision on approval of the electrification of the cross-city line; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Portillo
We can decide only when we have received a formal investment proposal from British Rail.