§ Sir Nicholas BonsorTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what services will be commencing on 8 July to replace Speedlink.
§ Mr. FreemanFrom 8 July British Rail will be running 125 trains a day to replace the Speedlink wagonload and related trainload services. Tigerail will be running freight train services from Cornwall and from Hampshire to Scotland and British Rail will commence a container service from north-east Scotland to Glasgow on a trial basis. About 70 per cent. of the domestic Speedlink traffic has been retained on rail. British Rail will also be running dedicated services to the Dover train ferry from all principal industrial locations in Britain for European traffic. Eighty-five per cent. of existing train ferry traffic has been retained to encourage and build up European business prior to the opening of the channel tunnel. I very much welcome this achievement.