HC Deb 16 July 1996 vol 281 cc435-6W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what upgrades are planned on the west coast main line. [36825]

Mr. Watts

Railtrack is currently assessing the likely costs and feasibilities for a wide variety of options for upgrading the west coast main line. These include increasing the line speed over all or part of the route and the introduction of new rolling stock, possibly utilising tilt technology. Advanced signalling systems are also being considered.

Once this assessment work has been completed a decision will be made on the specification for any upgrade project.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the maximum speed for trains on the west coast main line by the year 2000. [36826]

Mr. Watts

Any work undertaken to upgrade the west coast main line will not have been completed by the year 2000. The maximum line speed will therefore be 110mph, as it is now.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what year, on current projections, a rail journey will take(a) two hours between London and Manchester, (b) four hours between London and Glasgow and (c) one hour and forty-five minutes between London and Crewe. [36828]

Mr. Watts

No such projections have been made by my right hon. Friend.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what instructions he has given to the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising to issue tender documents in respect of the upgrading of the west coast main line. [36824]

Mr. Watts

The franchising director has invited and received, on 12 July, applications to pre-qualify for the InterCity west coast franchise. He will issue invitations to tender, including any relevant proposals for taking forward the upgrade of the west coast main line, in due course.