HC Deb 02 March 1993 vol 220 cc66-7W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the capital investment required(a) to resignal the west coast main line and (b) to replace the power supply to the west coast main line; and how much money British Rail is allocating to these purposes.

Mr. Freeman

It is for British Rail to assess what capital investment is required to resignal the west coast main line and to replace the power supply. Exactly how much money British Rail will be allocating to these purposes, and over what period, will be decided in the spring, when British Rail has completed its next corporate plan.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how long the power supply and the signalling for the west coast main line were designed to last; and when they were installed south of Warrington.

Mr. Freeman

The west coast main line was electrified in the 1960s. Signalling south of Crewe was also replaced in the 1960s. North of Crewe, the signalling was modernised in the 1970s.

The details of the design lives of the various components are matters for BR: it is for it to judge what needs to be replaced when.