§ Mr. Parkasked the Minister of Transport when the advanced passenger train is likely to be introduced on the intercity service between Euston and the Midlands.
§ Mr. FowlerI understand that the board's planned date of introduction of the advanced passenger train on the Euston to Coventry, Birmingham and Wolverhampton service is October 1986, although it is intended that some APTs on the Euston to the North-West service will make intermediate stops at stations in the Midlands from October 1984 onwards. Of course, before I can authorise the construction of a fleet of APTs I shall need to be satisfied that there is a sound financial case for such a build and that the financial performance of the Railways Board's intercity business can support the investment. I shall also wish to examine how the prototype APTs perform in commercial service.