Trans-European High Speed Rail System: Interoperability Directive

HL Deb 16 July 2001 vol 626 c108WA

Lord Berkeley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they intend to implement the European Union Directive on the Interoperability of the Trans-European High Speed Rail System. [HL283]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

Draft regulations to implement the Directive in Great Britain are currently out to consultation with a closing date of 31 July. We will then consider amendments to the regulations in the light of comments received. At present, we envisage that the regulations will be made and then come into force by October.

Lord Berkeley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which rail lines in the United Kingdom are covered by the European Directive on the Interoperability of the Trans-European High Speed Rail System. [HL285]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

The lines covered in the UK are the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh, the West Coast Main Line between London and Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Manchester, the Great Western Main Line between London and Bristol and Cardiff, that part of the Channel Tunnel that falls within UK jurisdiction and the Northern Ireland part of the line between Belfast and Dublin.