§ 25. Mr. Charles KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the impact of rail privatisation on the rail links to the north and the west of the Scottish highlands; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanI met the hon. Members for Ross, Cromarty and Skye (Mr. Kennedy), for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan), and for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (Sir R. Johnston), together with councillors and officials of the Highland regional council on 10 February to discuss the implications of passenger rail franchising for the highland lines.
418WAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 2 February, we intend to franchise ScotRail passenger services as a whole. The east coast main line InterCity services are also being prepared for franchising, and that includes services to Inverness. Fort William will continue to be served by the west coast main line InterCity services when they come to be franchised.
Subsidy will be made available to support franchised ScotRail services as at present and InterCity services if necessary. Service levels, which will be based on the timetable being operated by British Rail immediately prior to franchising, will be written into legally binding contracts between the franchising director and the franchised passenger train operators.