Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Hansard, 17 December 1993)

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he is giving to routing the channel tunnel rail link to King's Cross/St. Pancras in a deep tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Freeman
Union Railways' report, which we received on 29 October, includes a tunnel alternative to the surface route to St. Pancras along the north London line corridor. We are considering the information contained in the report, together with the many comments we have received during the consultation process, and will announce our decisions early in the new year.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters he has received from Islington residents in support of a deep tunnel link of the proposed channel tunnel link between Stratford and King's Cross/St. Pancras.

§ Mr. Freeman
In response to Union Railways' latest proposals we have received some 980 letters—and 1085W petitions with a total of 340 signatories—in support of a tunnel alternative to the surface route to St. Pancras along the north London line corridor.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the number of Islington residents on the route of the surface channel rail link who will be affected by noise and vibration(a) during construction and (b) during train operation.

§ Mr. Freeman
Union Railways' specialist consultants have assessed the scale of the noise and vibration impacts as part of their comparative appraisal of the options presented in Union Railways' report. Their work formed part of Union Railways' report to Government and will be published when the Government's decisions are announced.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Islington residents live within(a) 25, (b) 50, (c) 100 or (d) 250 m of the proposed channel tunnel surface link to King's Cross-St. Pancras.

§ Mr. Freeman
This information is not available.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies have been undertaken by his Department into the value of houses along the route of the proposed channel tunnel link in Islington; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Freeman
Union Railways is aware of the value of properties affected by the rail link which may have to be taken or which are seriously affected and has taken this into account in estimating the cost of various options.