§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the order for further electrification projects in the United Kingdom, the estimated costs of each and the date each is expected to be commissioned.
§ Mr. Eyre[pursuant to his reply, 7 February 1983, c. 290]: My right hon. Friend is considering the Railways Board's formal proposals to electrify the east coast main line to Leeds and Newcastle at a cost of £118 million, the line from Tonbridge to Hastings, £24 million, and the lines to Cambridge from Royston and from Bishops Stortford, £19 million. Decisions will be taken as soon as possible.
The east coast main line proposals comprise the first two projects in the Board's 10-year programme of main 484W line electrification. They submitted the programme last summer, and decisions on the balance of it will be reached in the light of the wider debate on the future of a modern and efficient railway.
Preliminary work has already started on electrification between Colchester and Harwich, Ipswich and Norwich at a cost of £29 million, and between Paisley and Ayr, £25 million. All costs quoted are estimates at 1982 prices and cover only infrastructure.