§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when direct passenger trains will start to run through the channel tunnel(a) from London to Paris, (b) from Leeds to Paris and (c) from Edinburgh to Paris.
§ Mr. FreemanDay services from London to Paris will commence when the tunnel opens. Negotiations are continuing between British Rail and the manufacturers to overcome technical difficulties relating to the day trains for direct services from cities north of London. No timetable for the delivery of these trains has yet been agreed, but they are unlikely to enter service before 1994. British Rail still plans to run night services both from London and direct from cities north of London when the tunnel opens.