§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in consideration of the future of the rail connection between Belfast and Londonderry and its importance to Donegal, the Government of the Republic of Ireland will be consulted. [HL2390]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe Railway Task Force is undertaking a consultation exercise, inviting all interested parties or individuals to make their views known. Should the Government of the Republic of Ireland wish to present its views, these will be fully considered by the Task Force.
97WA
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answers by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 2 May (WA 171), how the 4.5 per cent. increase in passenger traffic on the Belfast to Dublin railway line between 1995–96 and 1998–99 was calculated; and what was the increase year on year during that period. [HL2297]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonFigures available from Translink show that the cross-border rail patronage for 1995–96 was 810,600 and that the cross-border rail patronage for 1998–99 was 846,997. This gives the advised percentage increase of 4.5.
The year-on-year details during the period 1995–99 are set out below.
Years Patronage increase/decrease % Between 1995/96 and 1996/97 Decrease of 15.4 Between 1996/97 and 1997/98 Increase of 21 Between 1997/98 and 1998/99 Increase of 2.07
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answers by the Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 2nd May (WA 172), that there were no proposals to carry freight on the Belfast to Londonderry railway line, what was the purpose of recent trials involving the transportation of timber from the Republic of Ireland to Londonderry. [HL2298]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonTranslink has advised that the recent trials involving the transportation of timber from the Republic of Ireland to Londonderry were part of a pilot study to assess the feasibility of transporting timber from Irish Forestry Commission areas in North West Donegal to Londonderry and from there to Belfast, Limerick and Waterford via the rail network. Negotiations on this matter remain ongoing and no proposals have been made.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 4 May (WA 187) concerning European Union funding for the Belfast to Lame Railway, which is the appropriate agency to apply for European Union funding for the relaying of the railway line from Belfast to Larne; what part the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company has in making any such application: and, in view of the route's Euro-route status, why no such application has been made. [HL2432]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonIt would be a matter for the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company to apply for European funding for the relaying of the railway line from Belfast to Larne. The company has not submitted any such application, largely because it has accorded other parts of the network greater priority for the limited amount of European funding available.
98WA
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
In view of the importance of good track work to the safety and comfort of rail passengers in Northern Ireland, whether they will list the track renewed under Northern Ireland Railways annual replacement scheme over each of the last 10 years and the yearly cost. [HL2452]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonTranslink has provided the following details, which relate to all track renewed, with approximate costs, for each of the last 10 years. Translink has advised, however, that around 1992 the annual track replacement scheme was amalgamated with capital projects relating to track renewal. Therefore the information post-1992 relates to both.
Year Miles £ Cost (approximate) 1989–90 11 £4.2 million 1990–91 7 £2.5 million 1991–92 7 £2.5 million 1992–93 8.25 £6 million 1993–94 8 £8 million 1994–95 10 £10 million 1995–96 18 £12 million 1996–97 4 £4 million 1997–98 Nil Nil 1998–99 17.5 £16.7 million 1999–00 Nil Nil
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 2 May (WA 170), what steps they are taking to resolve the difficulties surrounding the upgrading of the railway station at Newry. [HL2453]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonTranslink have advised that, with the continuing lack of progress on the provision of the access road to the proposed new railway station site by the private sector developer, they are currently investigating other options.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure that, in any report from the Railway Task Force in Northern Ireland, social and environmental issues as well as financial issues are fully addressed. [HL2470]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonYes. As part of its deliberations, the task force has been considering the methodology to be used in evaluating the options it will consider. It has been agreed that the method to be adopted will take social and environmental aspects fully into account.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure that, in any planning proposals over the next 10 years, the possibility of reinstating the rail links from Portadown to Armagh and from Templepatrick to Ballyclare using, where possible, the existing track beds is fully taken into account. [HL2554]
99WA
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonResponsibility for this subject has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive Mr H S McKay, and I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.