§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends to take to ensure that the benefits of the channel tunnel are shared by people and industry in the Doncaster area.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Government have so far approved schemes valued at some £750 million of a total of £1.4 billion worth of improvements planned by British Rail. BR's plans include direct passenger services from the tunnel to the east coast main line. Pending availability of special trains for services north of London, the board is examining the possibility of running connecting services to Waterloo after the tunnel opens. The plans also include the provision of new international freight services to south Yorkshire. A number of major schemes in the Government's roads programme will improve access between Yorkshire and the channel tunnel.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the major schemes that have been approved by his Department to improve(a) roads and (b) rail access to the channel tunnel from Doncaster and the north.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Department has a substantial programme of trunk road improvements at various stages of preparation, many of which will improve links between the north and the channel tunnel.
These improvements include the M40 extension from Birmingham to Oxford which was opened to traffic on 16 January and will relieve congestion on the M1, and the following major schemes which have also been approved and are under construction:
- A1 Bramham-Wetherby Improvement
- A282 Dartford crossing approach roads
- M20 Junctions 5–8 widening
- M20 Maidstone to Ashford
The privately financed Dartford-Thurrock bridge is also due to be completed this year. Preparation has begun on schemes to upgrade the A1 to motorway standard between the M25 and Tyneside, to widen a large part of the M1, and on a study to increase the capacity of the M25. In addition the Department is giving a great deal of support to local road schemes which will serve channel tunnel traffic.
British Rail plans to invest an initial £1.4 billion for channel tunnel services to enable international services to operate from London and the regions. To date approval has been given for the following schemes, among others:
80W
Scheme £ million Waterloo terminal 106 Maintenance depot 81 30 Intercapital Transmanche super trains 378 Track and signalling improvements 50 30 class 92 freight locomotives 93 Electrification of the Tonbridge-Redhill line 19 There are a number of improvements for which the Secretary of State's approval is not required. These are not included in the list but form part of the overall £1.4 billion investment planned.