§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that fast trains using the channel tunnel rail link will stop at Ashford international passenger station;
834W(2) if he will make it his policy to secure a regular service of fast trains on the channel tunnel rail link which stops at Ashford.
§ Mr. FreemanIt is a commercial matter for the railway operator what services to run from the station. European passenger services expect about one third of the international services, and about 2 million passengers per year by the turn of the century, to use Ashford international. Provision of a junction with the rail link west of Ashford, providing access to the station for fast domestic and international services, is already Government policy.
§ Mr. DunnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will make a further announcement on the proposed competition to select a private sector promoter for the channel tunnel rail link.
§ Mr. FreemanThe competition begins today. The first stage will be for consortia to seek to pre-qualify, and the Department is today making available to interested parties a document which provides information about the project and sets out the procedure for pre-qualification. I am placing a copy in the Library.