§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list 335W the abandoned railway routes that are owned by British Rail, in each instance listing (a) the length in kilometres, (b) how long they have been closed and (c) the commercial value of the land. [59688]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonClosed lines owned by the British Railways Board, which are a mile or more long, are as follows:
Approximate mileage Akeman Street to Grendon Underwood 2 Apethorn Junction to Codley Junction 2.5 Ashton—Park Bridge branch 2.5 Bere Alston to Tavistock (not a continuous length) 6 Bowling branch, Bradford 1 Bridgeton to Parkhead (London Road tunnels only) 1 Brodsworth Colliery branch 1.5 Cambus to Menstrie 2 Catesby Tunnel, Charwelton 2.5 Chorlton Junction to Old Trafford 1.5 Colne—Foulridge (part) 3 Darngavel 1 Dereham to North Elmham 5 Drewton Tunnel, Little Weighton 1 Dumfries to Maxwelltown 3 Finnieston to Kirklee 1.25 Fletton Junction to Longville Junction 1 Glazebrook to Partington 2 Greenock Princes Pier branch 3 Hamilton to Larkhall (part) 1.25 Hartley to Stenkirth 1 Hyde Road to Gorton and Fairfield 1.5 Kelvinside branch (Urban tunnels) 1 Limekiln Junction to Oakdale (leasehold) 9 Luton to Dunstable 5 Mickleover to Mackworth 1 Muirkirk 1.75 Nuneaton avoiding line 1 Paisley St. James—Linwood branch 1 Queensbury Tunnel, Queensbury 1.5 Skegby branch (part) 1.25 Strathaven 1 Van branch, Caersws (not a continuous length) 4.5 Warrington—Latchford 1.5 Line lengths are shown in miles rather than kilometres as the Board's records are kept in miles and are approximations. BR also own numerous sections less than a mile long but details of these could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Board has no readily accessible comprehensive record of line closure dates. The bulk of the closures occurred some 30 years ago and the relevant records have been or are in the process of, being lodged with the Public Record Office.
It is not possible to state a commercial value of the land. This depends on what alternative uses may be available including what planning permission might be obtained, assuming an alternative development is permitted at all. Such a valuation would be commercially confidential during the sale process.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to promote the re-opening of disused rail lines. [59664]
336W
§ Ms Glenda JacksonOur White Paper announced that additional money will be available to encourage further investment in three main areas of the rail network. Over £100 million will be made available over the next three years to increase the level of freight grant and to set up two new funds. The Infrastructure Investment Fund will support strategic investment projects aimed at addressing capacity constraints. The Railway Passenger Partnership Fund will enhance local and regional services and be targeted at proposals that promote modal shift and integration with other modes. These two funds will be administered by the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising (OPRAF). Full details of the criteria that OPRAF will use in assessing applications will be announced shortly.