§ Mr. Snapeasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received a request from Lancashire and Greater Manchester county councils for grant-aid under section 56 of the Transport Act 1968 towards electrification of the Manchester-Blackpool North railway line; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellI considered such an application last year, but announced on 17 January my conclusion that electrification of the route from Manchester to Blackpool would not be cost-effective. Instead, British Rail proposes to introduce new diesel 'sprinter' units, and I am confident these will produce real improvements for passengers virtually equivalent to the benefits of electrification, at substantially less cost to taxpayers and ratepayers. 479W Electrification would have cost £13 million more net but the trains would have been only one minute faster over this route.
§ Mr. Snapeasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total cost of the electrification of the Manchester-Blackpool North railway line.
§ Mr. David MitchellIt is estimated that electrification of the Manchester-Blackpool line would cost £23 million. The alternative of diesel sprinter units providing an almost equivalent service leaves the taxpayers and ratepayers £13 million better off.