HC Deb 22 October 1990 vol 178 c65W
41. Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to meet the chairman of ScotRail to discuss electrification in Scotland.

Mr. Freeman

We welcome proposals from British Rail for further electrification where that would offer good value for money.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his discussions with ScotRail about the options for railway electrification of the(a) Edinburgh-Fauldhouse-Shotts-Glasgow, (b) Edinburgh-Carstairs-Glasgow and (c) EdinburghLinlithgow-Falkirk-Glasgow railway lines.

Mr. Freeman

The £12.5 million electrification of the line between Glasgow and Edinburgh via Carstairs is under way and due to be completed by the spring of 1991. ScotRail is to introduce the new class 158 express diesel units on the route from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh via Falkirk and Linlithgow. A full service using these new trains will be in operation by the end of this year. I understand that ScotRail is still considering whether a case can be made for electrifying the route via Shotts.