HC Deb 25 April 1990 vol 171 cc199-201W
Mr. Speller

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what gauge railway lines will be used for the channel link route.

Mr. Portillo

UIC "B".

Mr. Speller

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received representations seeking a change from

last 10 years. Figures for children as seated passengers, as standing passengers, and in the acts of boarding and alighting are shown separately.

The data are taken from the information provided on casualties in the STATS19 accident report form. The information provided on vehicles in the accident report form does not identify school buses; nor does it record the purpose of bus journeys or give general information about passengers. Figures relating to school-sponsored trips are, therefore, unavailable.

the United Kingdom railway gauge to one that is compatible with continental railways; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Portillo

I have received some suggestions that BR should begin to convert some or all routes to the continental loading gauge. This is a matter for BR to consider but any ungrading must be commercially justified. BR considers that the cost of conversion to continental loading gauge is prohibitive and that it is more effective to use new wagon technology. All wagons presently in service with BR can run on continental gauge railways. BR are looking to develop a fleet of new, smaller wheeled intermodal and conventional wagons which have the same loading capacities as those generally available in mainland Europe.