HC Deb 19 February 1990 vol 167 c589W
Mr. Channon

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will direct British Rail to give priority in its investment plans for Network SouthEast to improving rolling stock.

Mr. Parkinson

Network SouthEast has already identified rolling stock as its top investment priority. It is planning to invest some £1.2 billion over the next three years, of which about 70 per cent. will be for replacement of old stock and additional trains to relieve overcrowding.

Mr. Channon

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has received from British Rail about the timing of investment plans to improve the least satisfactory commuter lines in Network SouthEast.

Mr. Parkinson

Network SouthEast will be bringing forward various investments over the coming months to back up its efforts to achieve the quality objectives over every route by 1993. I know that it has begun work on detailed investment proposals for modernising the north Kent lines and the London-Tilbury-Southend line and I look forward to receiving its formal investment submissions as soon as they are ready.

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