§ 20. Mr. FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to improving rail links between the west midlands and the continent.
§ Mr. MacGregorBritish Rail is investing over 1.4 billion in rolling stock and infrastructure for their channel tunnel services. Projects particularly benefiting the west midlands include the upgrading of the existing freight terminal at Birmingham. This will enable high-quality rail freight services to operate from the region to the continent and allow goods to transfer from road to rail. British Rail is also investing in rolling stock to provide a direct day service for passengers linking Manchester, Birmingham, Stockport and Crewe to both Paris and Brussels and a passenger night service via Lancaster, Preston and Crewe to those cities.