§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of railway line have been closed in each year since 1977; and for each year, what proportion this represents of the remaining length of track.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe information requested is as follows:
Passenger and freight route miles closed and percentage of remaining length of track Year Miles closed Remaining track percentage 1977 33 0.30 1978 48 0.43 1979 109 0.99 1980 62 0.57 1981 140 1.29 1982 126 1.18 1983 184 1.75 Source: British Railways Board Annual Reports and Accounts.
§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the railway lines closed since 1 March 1973, their mileage and the date of closure.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe passenger railway lines closed since 1 March 1973 are as follows. My Department does not have similar information readily available on freight-only line closures:
Expenditure £ million* Scheme 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Total Colchester to Ipswich, Harwich and Norwich 0.44 2.36 5.83 9.56 6.20 0.83 25.22 Tonbridge to Hastings — 3.80 9.79 9.69 0.65 — 23.93 Bishops Stortford to Cambridge — — 0.51 2.15 5.87 1.26 9.79 * At price base used in British Rail's investment submission (Q1 1982 for Colchester to Ipswich, Harwich and Norwich, Q3 1982 for Tonbridge to Hastings and Q1 1983 for Bishops Stortford to Cambridge). In addition, the Government are supporting Strathclyde passenger transport executive's scheme for electrifying services from Paisley to Ayr and Ardrossan with a grant towards rolling stock costs. British Rail is also carrying out a number of other, small electrification projects which do not require our approval.
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Line Mileage Date of Closure 1. Newcastle-Riverside-Tynemouth 6.25 23 July 1973 2. Northampton Castle No. 4 Junction-Market Harborough Junction 16 26 August 1973 3. Dairy No. 3 Junction-Kilmarnock No. 2 Junction 10.5 1 October 1973 4. Maiden Newton-Bridport 9.25 5 May 1975 5. Runcorn-Helsby-Chester 1.75 5 May 1975 6. Morecambe-Heysham 4 6 December 1975 7. Haltwhistle-Alston 13 2 May 1977 8. Mauchline Junction, Newton Junction, Dubbs Junction and Byrehill Junction 11 13 June 1977 9. Royal Oak Junction-Filey Holiday Camp Minimal 26 November 1977 10. Kentish Town Junction and Engine Shed Junction 0.25 4 January 1981 11. Ferry Service between Hull and New Holland and the associated rail link 0.50 24 June 1981 12. Norwood Fork Junction-Selhurst Junction 0.25 14 May 1982 13. Phillips Park No. 1 Junction-Ashbury's West Junction 2 1 June 1982 14. March East Junction-Spalding South Junction 19.64 29 November 1982 15. Sleaford South Junction-Sleaford North Junction 2.79 29 November 1982 16. Greetwell West Junction-Pyewipe Junction 1.44 29 November 1982 17. Blaydon Junction-Newcastle West Junction 3 4 October 1982 18. Glasgow-Kilmacolm 17 10 January 1983 19. Clayton West Junction-Clayton West 3 24 January 1983 20. Woodside-Selsdon 2.25 15 May 1983 21. Penistone-Sheffield Nunnery Junction 14 16 May 1983 22. Bidston Junction-Seacombe Junction 0.37 28 November 1983