HL Deb 27 July 2000 vol 616 c83WA
Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proportion of the increased capacity that will result from the modernisation of the West Coast Main Line is intended or expected to be made available for freight traffic. [HL3654]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

The West Coast Main Line (WCML) upgrade is intended to produce a further 42 freight paths per day in each direction between north-west London and the West Midlands, the North West and Scotland. These will be above and beyond the present level of freight traffic and commensurate with the passenger service enhancements to be brought about through the Virgin West Coast contract and the broad level of services operated by the other existing WCML operators.