§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the sum which British Rail is planning to invest in order to exploit the opportunities offered by the channel tunnel and provide a breakdown of the projects involved and the amount of money to be spent on each programme.
§ Mr. FreemanBritish Rail currently plans to invest around £1.5 billion (in 1990–91 prices) to provide inter-national rail services in the early years after the tunnel opens. Major projects already approved by the Government include some £400 million for inter-capital passenger trains, over £100 million for the terminal at Waterloo, £75 million for a maintenance depot in west London, £80 million for the first batch of international freight locomotives and Tonbridge-Redhill electrification. BR's plans also include a station at Ashford, night and north of London passenger services and further investment in freight facilities. In addition we expect in the spring to receive British Rail's proposals for a new line between London and the tunnel.