§ Viscount Astorasked Her Majesty's Government:
Who is responsible for ensuring that there is sufficient electric power for the national rail network; and to which Government department hey report; and [HL5168]
Who is responsible for planning and implementing the future planned electric power requirement for the national rail network; and HL5169]
Which government department is responsible for the stategic overview of the power requirement of the national rail network. [HL5170]
§ Lord Davies of OldhamThe Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is responsible to the Department for Transport for planning for the railways' power supply needs. Before it went into administration, Railtrack had this responsibility but it failed to make proper provision for the power supply upgrade needed to120WA cater for the new trains now being introduced on the Southern Region. That upgrade is now being led by the SRA, working with Network Rail which has day-to-day responsibility for use of the power supply and for remedial action if the supply fails.