§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer on the Settle-Carlisle railway line on 16 May,Official Report, columns 677–84, what is the period of time for which British Rail is prepared to guarantee the provision of a substitute bus service.
§ Mr. David MitchellUnder the Transport Act 1985 British Rail may not withdraw a subsidised guaranteed bus service without the Secretary of State's consent, so the question of the board's willingness to run such a service does not arise.
§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer on the Settle-Carlisle railway line on 16 May,Official Report, columns 677–84, what running rights would be available to any private sector operator of the Settle-Carlisle railway into (a) Carlisle, (b) Hellifield, (c) Skipton, (d) Clitheroe or (e) Blackburn; and if such facilities have been discussed with the chairman of British Rail or any other British Rail officials.
§ Mr. David MitchellThere are matters to be negotiated in the first instance between British Rail and any prospective private operator.
§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer on the Settle-Carlisle railway line on 16 May,Official Report, columns 677–84, if he will list the structural liabilities on the Settle-Carlisle route which would he taken over by any private sector operator; whether obligations on 144 miles of lineside fencing would be removed; and what requirements on the provision of services and the retention of railway facilities would fall on any private purchasers.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe structural liabilities to be transferred are a matter for negotiation between British Rail and any prospective purchaser of the line. It would be for such an operator to decide what services to offer; there is no statutory power for Ministers of British Rail to impose any obligation in this respect.
§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State, for Transport, pursuant to his answer on the Settle-Carlisle railway line on 16 May,Official Report, columns 677–684, if his calculations of revenue credited to the Settle-Carlisle 524W railway reflected the diversion of freight services away from the route by British Rail; and whether his estimate of revenue included revenue from diversions of passenger trains in the fiscal year ended 5 April.
§ Mr. David MitchellDecisions on the routeing of freight services are made by British Rail on a commercial basis. There was no case therefore for attributing any revenue to the Settle-Carlisle railway on account of British Rail's previous decisions to use different routes for its freight trains. The cost and revenue implications of using alternatives to the Settle-Carlisle line for the diversion of passenger trains were taken into account when assessing the case for closure.