§ Mr. Gregory CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the new rolling stock being tested by Translink will he used on the whole rail network. [166001]
§ Mr. SpellarThe first of the 23 new trains is due to be delivered this month. After a period of commissioning and testing it is expected that the first train will be in passenger service by the late autumn of this year, with the remainder coming into service progressively through 2004 and 2005.
Translink is currently considering how the trains can best be deployed on the Northern Ireland railway network and will announce its decision when this is complete.