HL Deb 25 February 2003 vol 645 cc23-4WA
The Earl of Mar and Kellie

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether Northern Ireland Railways is being prevented from expanding passenger services by shortage of rolling stock. [HL1772]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Northern Ireland Railways has sufficient rolling stock to operate all the services required under its public service obligation agreement with the Department for Regional Development and for which it receives subsidy to cover its operating losses. Using its existing rolling stock the company could expand its passenger services at weekends but not on weekdays. However, low demand for additional services at weekends would not warrant the additional subsidy costs that would be entailed. The replacement of its existing 18 Class 80 trains with 23 new trains currently on order will in due course enable Translink to expand its services particularly at peak periods on weekdays.

The Earl of Mar and Kellie

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in comparison with the cost of rebuilding the Belfast-Bleach Green-Antrim railway, they regard the estimated £13 million for upgrading the Lisburn-Antrim railway as excessive. [HL1773]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The cost of reopening the railway line from Bleach Green junction to Antrim was approximately £17 million. For passengers from Antrim and all stations north and west of Antrim this has reduced the journey time to Belfast by about 20 minutes. The line now carries on average 1,100 passengers per day. However, the Lisburn to Antrim line now carries on average 70 passengers per day. On the basis of an economic appraisal which explored future growth patterns in the population serviced by the Antrim-Lisburn line, the case for significant capital investment on this line is not compelling.

The Earl of Mar and Kellie

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they agree with the proposal for a circular passenger service on the Belfast-Lisburn-Antrim-Bleach Green-Belfast railway line. [HL1774]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

We are currently proceeding to implement the consolidation option in the Railway Task Force's report of September 2000 as developed by the Regional Transportation Strategy for Northern Ireland 2002–12, the strategic direction and underlying principles of which were agreed by the Northern Ireland Assembly on 3 July 2002. Accordingly, we are currently upgrading the core railway network and purchasing new trains. If this investment is successful, we would hope to proceed to modernise the track north of Whitehead and Ballymena, subject to normal appraisal processes. The scenario of a Belfast-Lisburn-Antrim-Belfast passenger circle line, as envisaged in the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland 2025, remains a longer-term possibility, if a robust financial, economic, social and transportation case can be made.