§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the route mileage, listing the actual sections, of British Rail track capable of operating to western European or Berne loading gauges; and what studies of the extension of such mileage are under consideration; and along which routes.
§ Mr. FreemanThere are no railways cleared to such loading gauges in the United Kingdom at present. Although there are no plans to upgrade existing British Rail track to European gauges, it is proposed that the channel tunnel rail link—68 route miles—should be built424W to the UIC B+ loading gauge. The merits of upgrading certain freight routes to an intermediate gauge are being discussed by British Rail and other interested parties.