§ Miss Pikeasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the former Great Central Railway between Banbury and Sheffield could be converted at moderate cost for use by European freight or passenger vehicles using the Channel Tunnel; and if he will give an assurance that he will not accede to the withdrawal of further services from this line until there has been a full investigation of this matter.
§ Mr. Tom FraserThe shaping and development of the railway network is essentially a matter for the Railways Board, who have played a large part in formulating the project for the Channel Tunnel and are fully aware of its implications for them.
Before giving my decision on the Board's proposals for the closure of passenger services on the Great Central line I shall of course take all relevant matters into account.
§ Mr. Ron Lewisasked the Minister of Transport what representations have been made to him regarding the proposed closure of the Great Central Line; and whether he will treat this line as a major closure.
§ Mr. Tom FraserSeveral hon. Members, local authorities, the railway unions and others have represented to me that30W the diversion of certain services and the withdrawal of others should not take place.
Changes in the operation of freight services are a matter entirely for the Railways Board, and I cannot intervene. I have received advance particulars from the Board about the proposed withdrawal of certain through passenger services from sections of the line. I am considering whether such a withdrawal would constitute a major closure as described in my statement of 4th November.