HC Deb 11 January 1996 vol 269 cc286-7W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made it a condition of any applications for privatisation, ownership or operation of the docklands light railway that(a) fare levels are the same as for London Underground Ltd., (b) it will remain part of the London public transport zone scheme, (c) zone-period passes will remain valid at London fare levels and (d) the pensioners'pass scheme will continue for this line. [8249]

Sir Paul Beresford

The Government's policy is that the docklands light railway will continue to participate in the London public transport zone scheme and to participate in the joint through-ticketing arrangements, including Travelcard, when its operations and management are franchised to a private sector operator later this year. Passengers should therefore, as now, be able to use the full range of London-wide tickets on the DLR at the same prices as on London Underground. The DLR currently sets its own fares for DLR-only journeys and this will also continue after franchising. The DLR takes part in the London boroughs concessionary travel scheme and offers pensioners and others free travel, as on London Underground. Our policy is that this should continue, subject to funds continuing to be available from the boroughs.

Docklands Light Railway 1992–93 to 1995–96
1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 11995–96
(a) the number of train miles in service 0.69 million 0.65 million 1.05 million 1.24 million
(b) the number of passenger miles travelled 20 million 24 million 37 million 46 million
(c) (i) the operating cost per train mile £28.0 £29.3 £23.2 £18.1
(ii) the operating cost per passenger mile £0.95 £0.79 £0.62 £0.48
(d) the subsidy per passenger mile £0.77 £0.60 £0.43 £0.27
(e) the percentage of non-capital costs received from passengers and London pooled income. 23 per cent. 24 per cent. 30 per cent. 42 per cent.
1 Estimate outturn figures

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the capital investment, at constant prices, including additional costs arising from adjustment to control or signalling systems, for each phase of construction of the docklands light railway and the estimated cost of its extension to Lewisham together with the contributions to that capital expenditure not originating from public funds, stating their respective sources. [8248]

Sir Paul Beresford

The capital cost of the docklands light railway, at constant 1995 prices is as follows:

  • Initial railway: £90 million
  • Extension to Bank and upgrading: £295 million
  • Extension to Beckton: £280 million
  • Resignalling/improvements: £56 million
  • Prime contract: £30 million
  • Total: £751 million

Olympia and York made a contribution of £95 million at 1995 prices to the Bank extension and Canary Wharf station. The extension of the DLR to Lewisham will be built as a joint venture under the Government's private finance initiative at a cost of over £100 million. The amount of private sector investment will be established following the tendering exercise now under way.