HC Deb 12 July 1988 vol 137 cc138-9W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate the rail freight capacity of the Channel tunnel; what are the forecasts of demand for rail freight through the Channel tunnel; and when he expects to make a statement about Eurotunnel's plans for allocating freight capacity through the tunnel in cases of excess demand.

Mr. David Mitchell

The rail freight capacity of the Channel tunnel will depend on a number of factors, notably the way in which the total available capacity is allocated between Eurotunnel's shuttle trains and the through trains which will be operated by the British Railways Board in conjunction with SNCF and other continental railway operators. The usage agreement between Eurotunnel and the railways entitles the railways to half the total available capacity of the tunnel; the way in which this share of the total capacity if allocated between passenger and freight services is a matter for the operators concerned, whose planning is still at an early stage. This issue is addressed in British Rail's report on the need for additional rail capacity in the longer term between London and the tunnel, which will be published shortly. The report will also include information on the demand forecasts for rail freight through the tunnel.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he has given to British Rail on the criteria for assessing investment in the strategic rail networks of the regions outside the south-east; and whether he will make it his policy to review those criteria in the event that it is not possible to justify investment required to achieve Government policy towards dispersing freight and passenger traffic from the Channel tunnel.

Mr. David Mitchell

I expect BR's freight and passenger investment related to the Channel tunnel to be justified on a proper commercial basis. Section 42 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 precludes subsidies for Channel-related services.

Mr. Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent his Department monitors the technology and engineering expertise employed in the construction of the Channel tunnel; what assessment he has made of the implications for safety and the lifetime of the concrete tunnel linings, in the light of the recent problems of corrosion in the Hong Kong mass transit rail tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. David Mitchell

[holding answer 11 July 1988] : The United Kingdom-French Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission and Safety Authority has established procedures for monitoring the Channel tunnel project. These bodies are, in accordance with the Channel tunnel concession agreement, considering avant projets covering the design of the project. In doing so they are receiving reports from the independent Maitre d'Oeuvre that include assessments of the technology and engineering expertise being used. The difficulties that have arisen on the design of the Hong Kong mass transit rail tunnel are known: the Channel tunnel is being designed to avoid such problems.