Inter-city Rail Strategy

HC Deb 30 July 1984 vol 65 c75W

17. Mr. Jim Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the inter-city rail strategy.

25. Mr. Snape

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to discuss inter-city strategy with the chairman of British Rail.

Mr. Ridley

The strategy study charts the path to a profitable inter-city sector in 1988–89. This is very welcome. I shall, therefore, be writing to the chairman of British Rail to confirm that the target for the sector is to achieve a 5 per cent. return on its capital assets by 1988–89 and to say that inter-city will be ineligible for PSO grant from that year.