The Earl of Haddingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 16 March (WA 95), whether they will place copies in the Library of all reports of (a) weekend surveys; (b) detailed quarterly surveys; and (c) annual reviews of the Severn rail tunnel in each of the last fifteen years, and which reports and inspections have been made by an independent structural engineer. [HL1767]
§ Lord WhittyThe maintenance of the Severn rail tunnel is the responsibility of Railtrack. We are advised they do not hold this information centrally and that it could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The Earl of Haddingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 16 March (WA 95), whether the Health and Safety Executive will request test borings into (a) the wall linings and (b) the strata and detritus behind the walls of the Severn Tunnel. [HL1768]
§ Lord WhittyRailtrack PLC have responsibility for maintaining the Severn Railway tunnel in a safe condition. The Health and Safety Executive is not currently aware of any reasons to doubt the structural integrity of the tunnel, although its railway inspectors recently conducted an inspection which identified possible problems with brickwork lining being affected by water ingress. The inspectors are commencing further enquiries into structural integrity issues and will take whatever action is necessary to ensure that Railtrack PLC is maintaining its infrastructure safely.
The Earl of Haddingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 4 March (WA 194), whether following the proposed closures of the Severn rail tunnel for maintenance purposes, they will list the total journey times of all trains diverted via Gloucester on each occasion when diversions occur; whether passengers are transported by other means; and, if so, by what means. [HL1770]
§ Lord WhittyClosure of the tunnel and subsequent alterations to passenger services that would normally use the tunnel are operational matters for Railtrack and the relevant train operating companies.
We are advised that First Great Western will publish prior to each closure a leaflet giving the times of all trains and copies of these will be placed in the House Library. Passengers will be conveyed by bus between Newport and Bristol Parkway in both directions as diversion via Gloucester means that trains will not call at Newport.
50WA
The Earl of Haddingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will list the total journey times for all intercity trains from or via Cardiff to Pacldington rail terminal which have been diverted via Gloucester as a result of closure of the Severn rail tunnel in each of the last three years.,[HL1771]
§ Lord WhittyClosure of the tunnel and subsequent alterations to passenger services that would normally use the tunnel are operational matters for Railtrack and the relevant train operating companies. We are advised they do not hold this information centrally and that it could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.