§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has entered into any negotiations with British Rail regarding contingency planning in respect of the Severn bridge to utilise the Severn tunnel to convey heavy lorries from a railhead near Bristol parkway and unloading at Severn tunnel junction.
§ Mr. RidleyNo, although in 1982, my Department consulted British Rail about the potential rail capacity if customers chose to direct more of their traffic to rail. Special rolling stock would be needed to convey heavy lorries through the tunnel.