§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assurances he has been given that an order for new rolling stock to serve the Kent coast line, based upon existing available funding and the Networker design, would be commercially viable; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what discussions he has had with British Rail concerning its failure to place an order for new Networker trains to serve the Kent coast line.
§ Mr. FreemanMy right hon. Friend and I have asked British Rail to tell me by Easter what rolling stock it wishes to lease using the £150 million leasing facility announced at the time of the autumn statement, and for which routes. New Networker rolling stock for Kent coast is one of the options. We expect BR to inform us of the commercial implications of its chosen option.