Miss MclntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on Eurostar train services from York directly to Brussels, Paris and Frankfurt; and if he will make a statement. [147081]
§ Mr. HillThere has been considerable interest in Eurostar services to the regions but I am not aware that we have received any representations in the last three years referring specifically to the running of Regional Eurostar trains services to York other than from the hon. Member for the Vale of York (Miss Mclntosh).
The Channel Tunnel Act 1987 placed a duty on the British Railways Board to prepare and publish a plan for the provision of regional Eurostars. Their original plan was published in 1989 and they have just published a revised plan based on a review. This concludes that regional Eurostar services would be heavily loss making and that there are no economic, environmental or social grounds for providing a subsidy. Copies of their report are available on their website at www.brb.gov.uk. In future the Strategic Rail Authority will have a duty to provide a plan for passenger services through the Channel tunnel.