§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will raise at the European Community Transport Council proposals for the adoption of standard low bogies for through freight trains travelling on the United Kingdom and continental rail network after 1993.
§ Mr. FreemanAt the request of the Transport Council, the European Commission has recently set up a high-level working group to identify the measures required for the creation of a combined transport network and the conditions under which such a network can operate effectively. The United Kingdom will participate fully in the working group.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to discuss with his French counterpart the Berne-gauge/British Rail gauge compatibility problem for through freight transport after channel tunnel completion.
§ Mr. FreemanIn the spring.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the introduction of low bogies on the Berne gauge trains running through the channel tunnel.
§ Mr. FreemanThe choice of the rolling stock for channel tunnel freight services is primarily a commercial matter for British Rail and its railway partners. British Rail plans to use low-platform wagon technology to carry most types of swapbodies and containers within the British loading gauge.