§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a commitment that full local services, of at least the same frequency as existed in the winter 2003–04 timetable, will be reinstated upon the West Coast mainline by May 2005. [177710]
§ Mr. McNultyThe Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) intends that the timetables for local services on the West Coast Main Line will be restored when the West Coast700W Route Modernisation works are completed and when driver training and rolling stock enhancements for Central Trains services are completed. This is currently estimated to be in May 2005. The level of service will be substantially that in the winter 2003–04 timetable but the SRA will be discussing with stakeholders changes to these timetables to reflect developments in travel patterns.