§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Bradford. South of 30 June, Official Report, column 53, on what estimate of rail costs he based his judgment that road-borne materials would be cheaper than rail for the construction of the Airedale route.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyOfficials had discussions with British Rail about the delivery of fly ash to the site of the Kildwick to Beechcliffe section of the Airedale route. Even with an existing railhead available at source, the overall cost markedly exceeded that of supply by road.
Officials also had discussions with British Rail about the delivery of bulk materials to the site of the Victoria Park to Crossflatts section of the route. There was high additional cost. Qualifications attached to the use of the railway would have had further—and incalculable—cost implications.
It was decided that the circumstances did not justify incorporating conditions in either contract about the use of railway for delivey materials.