Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Minister of Transport when he will approve the contracts for the resignalling of the line from Crewe to Glasgow; and whether the signalling will be suitable for the use of electric locomotives on this route.
§ Mr. MulleyApproval has already been given to the British Railways Board's proposal to resignal this route. The details of the contracts involved are the responsibility of the board. I am, of292W course, aware of the relation between the method of resignalling and the electrification of the line, on which I hope to reach a decision shortly.
Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Minister of Transport when he received proposals from British Railways for the electrification of the line from Crewe to Glasgow; and when he will make a decision on this application.
§ Mr. MulleyThe British Railways Board's proposals to electrify and modernise the route were received on 14th May, 1968. My predecessor announced his approval to modernisation in April this year, and then told my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, East (Mr. Mapp) that there could be no question of electrification proceeding before the end of 1969. The electrification proposals have been under examination with the board since they were submitted and the latest information required before a decision could be taken was received at the beginning of this month. I hope shortly to make a decision.—[Vol. 782, c. 217.]