Rail (Investment Projects)

HC Deb 23 July 1996 vol 282 cc132-3W

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many major projects in British Rail's 1991 "Future Rail—The Next Decade" investment prospectus are under construction. [38536]

Mr. Watts

British Rail's document "Future Rail—The Next Decade", published in July 1991, mentioned seven projects involving the construction of new railway lines and the upgrading of existing lines. Of those seven projects, three are completed—the Birmingham cross-city electricification scheme, the Manchester metrolink light rail scheme and the Manchester airport rail link. One—Heathrow express—is under construction. The remaining three—the channel tunnel rail link, Thameslink 2000 and crossrail—are at various stages of development.