West Coast Main Line

HC Deb 02 June 1997 vol 295 c60W

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the amounts of public funds which will be spent on the modernisation of the west coast main line. [1136]

Ms Glenda Jackson

Railtrack is committed to spend £1.5 billion on the modernisation and upgrade of the West Coast Main Line funded by access charges paid by the train operators using the route. The upgrade to provide tilting trains and faster line speeds is being paid for by Virgin, the InterCity West Coast franchisee. Virgin is receiving £76.8 million subsidy in its first full financial year, reversing to a premium payment of £220.3 million to OPRAF in 2011/2012.

We have made it clear that we expect higher levels of investment in the network and are considering whether the regulatory regime in place is sufficient to ensure the delivery of that level of investment.