Railways (Hansard, 8 December 1989)

§ Mr. Alex Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those Welsh lines due to have a super sprinter train service by mid-1990.
402W

§ Mr. Portillo
Decisions on the allocation of rolling stock to specific railway lines are for the British Railways Board.

§ Mr. Alex Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on when British Rail plans to electrify the Crewe to Holyhead line.

§ Mr. Portillo
I am unaware of any plans by British Rail to electrify this line.

§ Mr. Geraint Howells
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what resources he intends to make available to British Rail to encourage the greater frequency of trains on the Cambrian coast line between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury and Pwllheli.

§ Mr. Portillo
The Government have approved over £400 million (1989–90 prices) of investment in new rolling stock for the provincial sector since 1983. It is for British Rail to decide the detailed disposition of resources within the sector in the light of the public service obligation which requires the board to continue to provide a level of service generally comparable to that in April 1988. They are free to provide additional services where that does not lead to an increase in grant.

§ Mr. Livsey
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail about its plans for direct passenger travel through the Channel tunnel from 1993(a) from Cardiff and (b) from Holyhead in terms of year of commencement and proposed frequency; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Portillo
British Rail will be setting out its proposals in the plan which it will shortly be publishing, in compliance with section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987. I have discussed progress on this work with British Rail from time to time.

§ Mr. Livsey
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail about running passenger through trains on the central Wales line from Manchester to Milford Haven.

§ Mr. Portillo
Decisions on the routing and timetabling of rail services are for the management of British Rail.

§ Mr. Livsey
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on when the Paddington to Swansea line will be electrified.

§ Mr. Portillo
It is for British Rail to come forward with any proposals.

§ Mr. Livsey
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether British Rail has sought approval for investment in a Berne gauge freight line(a) from the Channel tunnel to south Wales and (b) from the Channel tunnel to north Wales.

§ Mr. Portillo
No.

§ Mr. Livsey
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received a request from British Rail for funding of a main line rail link to Cardiff Wales (Rhoose) Airport.

§ Mr. Portillo
No.