HC Deb 12 November 2003 vol 413 c371W
Mr. Beggs

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the speed restrictions that apply to the Belfast to Larne railway line. [137667]

Permanent speed restrictions on the Belfast/Larne line
Reason Location Mileposts Mph
Track alignment Lagan Junction—Donegall Quay 113.75–114.00 30
Track alignment Donegall Quay—Yorkgate (Signal 217–219) 114.00–115.00 45
Track alignment Donegall Quay—(to and from up loop) 114.25–114.50 25
Track condition Carrickfergus—Jordanstown (up line only) 10.00–05.25 30
Track condition Jordanstown—Bleach Green Junction (up line only) 5.25–04.75 20
Track condition Bleach Green Junction (down line to Larne line) 04.75–05.00 50
Track condition Bleach Green Junction—Jordanstown (down line only) 05.00–05.50 30
Track condition Jordanstown—Trooperslane (down line only) 05.50–07.75 50
Track condition Trooperslane (down line only) 07.75–08.25 30
Track condition Trooperslane—Carrickfergus (down line only) 08.25–09.50 50
Track condition Carrickfergus station (down line only) 09.50–09.75 30
Track alignment Kilroot—Down line to single line 12.25–12.50 30
Track condition Whitehead (to and from Up Loop) 14.25–14.50 15
Track condition Through Whitehead station 14.25–14.75 30
Track alignment Magheramorne Curves 19.50–20.00 30
Track alignment Larne Town Curves 23.00–24.25 40
Track alignment Larne Town—Larne Harbour single line to Down line (through No. 940 points) 23.75–24.00 20

Mr. Beggs

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the new trains and rolling stock for the Northern Ireland network will be allocated to serve on the East Antrim line between Belfast to Larne; and when these trains and rolling stock will be operational in(a) East Antrim and (b) other areas of Northern Ireland. [137668]

Mr. Spellar

Translink advise that they have set up a team to determine optimum use of the new train sets on the basis of accessibility and logistics, potential for passenger growth, current infrastructure constraints and other criteria including improvement of network integration. They will announce their intentions for the new train sets when this work is complete. It is intended that the first new train set should be in operation in mid 2004 with the remaining 22 sets coming into service progressively during the rest of 2004 and 2005.