HC Deb 19 October 1988 vol 138 cc971-2W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received the joint report from British Rail and London Regional Transport concerning congestion on rail services in central London; when this will be made public; and if he will make a statement concerning his responses.

Mr. Portillo

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State hopes to receive the report of the central London rail study and announce its main findings towards the end of the year.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, consequent to the receipt of the report by London Regional Transport and the British Railways Board on rail congestion in London, he will estimate the cost of extending the approved rail link from Heathrow to Paddington over two miles of new standard gauge tube tunnel to King's Cross, and investigate the implications of using such a line, and that proposed from Mottingham to King's Cross, as part of the London urban rail network.

Mr. Portillo

The central London rail study is taking account of the proposed new Heathrow-Paddington rail link. It is for British Rail and BAA to consider whether they wish to bring forward proposals to extend the link beyond Paddington.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, consequent to the receipt of the report by London Regional Transport and the British Railways Board on central London rail congestion, he will use his statutory power to require London Regional Transport and its subsidiaries to restore train frequency on London underground to that of pre-war or subsequent levels, where currently they do nor. reach such levels of service.

Mr. Portillo

The central London rail study is considering the scope for improving the utilisation of the existing network. We shall consider carefully any such proposals.