§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what role the Strategic Rail Authority has in the publication of Railtrack's Annual Network Management Statement for Great Britain for 2001; and when he expects the document to be published. [159182]
§ Mr. HillRailtrack is required to consult the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) regarding the SRA's present and future proposals for the provision of railway services. The SRA will work with Railtrack to identify, prioritise, prepare and put out to tender the enhancement projects that will increase capacity and improve safety and performance on the network.
Railtrack expects to publish Part 1 of its Network Management Statement, on the core railway and its asset stewardship obligations, by the end of May 2001. Part 2 of the statement, to be published in the autumn, will identify enhancement projects and set out a procurement method agreed with the SRA.