Belfast to Bangor Railway Line

HL Deb 12 May 2000 vol 612 cc242-3WA

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 18 April (WA 86) regarding the Belfast to Bangor railway line, what was the date of application for the European grant for relaying the track; why the estimated cost has increased by over 50 per cent since that date; and why an application for European Union funding for the new estimate of costs has not been made. [HL2215]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

An application for European funding to upgrade the railway line between Belfast and Bangor was submitted to the Department of the Environment on 5 October 1998. Translink has advised that its original estimate of the cost was based on carrying out the work using their own resources. However, these resources are heavily committed elsewhere and in order to meet the deadline for receipt of European grant they would have to contract out the work. Translink has advised that the increase in the estimated cost is largely due to this change.

The Department of Regional Development was notified of the increased estimated cost of the project in June 1999. By that time there was insufficient European funding available to meet the shortfall in funding for the project.