§ Lord Berkeleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will list the sale prices and dates of sale of companies previously owned by British Rail.
§ Viscount GoschenThe table below lists those companies previously owned by British Rail which have either been sold or franchised since the Railways Act 1993 received Royal Assent on 3rd November 1993.
Franchises have been awarded as time limited contracts to run services. They do not involve the sale of the relevant business. The transfer to the private sector of European Passenger Services Ltd. and Union Railways Ltd. took place as part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Project, details of which are set out in the Explanatory Memorandum which was placed in the Library of the House on 8th March 1996.
The flotation of Railtrack plc will realise proceeds of £1.93 billion, assuming the full exercise of over-allotment options. The sale of the three rolling stock leasing companies realised the sum of some £1,822 million (£598 million for Eversholt Leasing Ltd., £528 million for Porterbrook Leasing Ltd. and £696 million for Angel Train Contracts Ltd.).
Of the sales conducted directly by British Rail, prices were £132.75 million for BR Telecommunications Ltd., £11.15 million for OBS Ltd., £0.47 million for Ditton Timber Treatment Works and £1.125 million for Baileyfield Switches and Crossings Ltd.
Individual prices for other sales by British Rail will be disclosed as soon as there is no risk that this could prejudice disposals yet to be completed. Gross proceeds to 10th June 1996, subject to post-completion adjustments, from these other sales by British Rail amount to £523 million. This covers six freight businesses, the seven divisions of BR Maintenance Limited, 11 Central Services businesses and 19 BR Infrastructure Services businesses.
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Sales/Franchises awarded—as at 10th June 1996 Franchises Great Western Holdings Ltd. (Great Western) Awarded 19th December 1995 Stagecoach Holdings plc Ltd. (South West Trains) Awarded 18th December 1995 Both commenced operations on 4th February 1996 GNR (InterCity East Coast) Awarded 29th March 1996 National Express Group plc (Gatwick Express) Awarded 3rd April 1996 National Express Group plc (Midland Main Line) Awarded 22nd April 1996 All three commenced operations on 28th April 1996 London & South Coast Ltd. (Network South Central) Awarded 11th April 1996 Prism Rail plc (L T & S) Awarded 8th May 1996 Both commenced operations on 26th May 1996 Channel Tunnel Rail Link Project Union Railways Ltd. Transfer to London & Continental Railways 31st May 1996 European Passenger Services Ltd. Transfer to London & Continental Railways 31st May 1996 Companies Sold Railtrack plc Stock market flotation 20th May 1996 Freight and Parcels Red Star Sold 5th September 1995 Rail express systems Ltd. Sold 9th December 1995 Trainload Freight businesses Sold 24th February 1996 — Loadhaul Freight Ltd. — Mainline Freight Ltd. — Transrail Freight Ltd. Freightliner (1995) Ltd. Sold 25th May 1996 Rolling Stock Leasing Companies Porterbrook Leasing Ltd. Sale completed 8th January 1996 Angel Train Contracts Ltd. Sale completed 17th January 1996 Eversholt Leasing Ltd. Sale completed 2nd February 1996 BR Infrastructure Companies Scotland Track Renewals Co. Ltd. Sold 8th February 1996 Scotland Infrastructure Maintenance Co. Ltd. Sold 14th February 1996 Central Track Renewals Co. Ltd. Sold 29th February 1996 Western Infrastructure Maintenance Co. Ltd. Contracts exchanged 7th March 1996, completed 25th March 1996 Central Infrastructure Maintenance Co. Ltd. Contracts exchanged 7th March 1996, completed 19th April 1996 Eastern Track Renewals Co. Ltd. Sold 15th March 1996 Southern Track Renewal Co. Ltd. Sold 2nd April 1996 South East Infrastructure Maintenance Co. Ltd. Sold 2nd April 1996 Eastern Infrastructure Maintenance Co. Ltd. Sold 2nd April 1996 South West Infrastructure Maintenance Co. Ltd. Sold 18th April 1996 174WA
Sales/Franchises awarded—as at 10th June 1996 Franchises Northern Infrastructure Maintenance Co. Ltd. Contracts exchanged 21st May 1996 North Track Renewal Co. Ltd. Sold 23rd May 1996 BR Infrastructure Services Design Office DCU Birmingham Sold 25th July 1995 Mainline Swindon Sold 18th August 1995 IDG Glasgow Sold 18th August 1995 BPE Mechanical and Engineering Consultancy, Doncaster Sold 15th September 1995 Civil Engineering Design Group, York Sold 15th September 1995 Powertrack Engineering Company Limited Sold 15th December 1995 CEDAC London Limited Sold 15th December 1995 BR Maintenance Ltd. Swindon Electronic Service Centre Sold 11th April 1995 Chart Leacon (Ashford), Sold 5th June 1995 Ilford, and Doncaster Depots Sold 5th June 1995 Wolverton, and Springburn (Glasgow) Depots Sold 6th June 1995 Eastleigh Depot Sold 7th June 1995
Sales/Franchises awarded—as at 10th June 1996 Franchises BR Central Services Meldon Quarry Ltd. Sold February 1994 Baileyfield Switches and Crossings Works Sold 7th July 1995 Ditton Timber Treatment Works Sold 1st September 1995 Quality and Safety Services Ltd. Sold 10th November 1995 Railways Occupational Health Ltd. Sold 30th November 1995 Signalling Control (UK) Ltd. Sold 1st December 1995 Interlogic Control Engineering Ltd. Sold 4th January 1996 Castleton Long Welded Rail & Track Works Sold 14th March 1996 The Engineering Link Ltd. Sold 18th March 1996 Interfleet Technology Ltd. Sold 22nd March 1996 College of Railway Technology Sold 29th March 1996 Network Train Engineering Services Ltd. Sold 1st April 1996 Other Businesses Special Trains Unit Sale completed 31st March 1995 BR Telecommunications Ltd. Sale completed 21st December 1995 OBS Services Ltd. Sold 3rd October 1995