HC Deb 21 October 1991 vol 196 cc464-5W
Mr. Trotter

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many extra minutes the journey from Paris to Newcastle on the through rail passenger services will take as a result of the trains travelling through Stratford to King's Cross rather than through south London.

Mr. Freeman

Current estimates indicate that it will take an extra four minutes to reach King's Cross.

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies have been undertaken concerning the feasibility of constructing dedicated high speed rail links to the regions of the United Kingdom, and in particular to Scotland, to link up with the proposed high speed rail link from Folkestone to King's Cross.

Mr. Freeman

British Rail has concluded that its existing network beyond London has sufficient capacity. The east and west coast main lines already provide high speed routes from Scotland and will have good connections with the channel tunnel line at King's Cross.