§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions have been held with Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire city councils on the upgrading and passenger use of the Bedford-Bletchley-Bicester line; and if he will make a statement. [15994]
§ Mr. Watts[holding answer 14 February 1997]: Officials from the Government offices for the eastern region and the south-east are represented on the steering group running the feasibility study into the reopening of the Oxford-Bletchley-Bedford-Cambridge route to passenger traffic. My Department held discussions with the consultants advising the consortium of local authorities concerned in December 1996.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the volume of freight traffic on the Bletchley to Bicester line in each year since 1993; and if he will make a statement. [15995]
§ Mr. Watts[holding answer 14 February 1997]: Statistical records are not kept of the tonnages of freight traffic over individual sections of railway.
The Bicester to Claydon Junction stretch of this line is currently used for the carriage of waste to a landfill site. Five trains a week operate in each direction on this section of the line.
The Claydon Junction to Bletchley stretch of the line has not been used since before 1993.