HC Deb 24 April 2002 vol 384 cc288-9W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many freight trains of each freight operating company(a) arrived late by (i) more than five minutes and (ii) more than 10 minutes and (b) were cancelled (1) in each month from January 2000 to April 2002 and (2) in each year for which data are available since 1990. [50911]

Mr. Jamieson

Punctuality of freight services is a contractual matter between Railtrack and the individual freight operators.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how(a) delays and (b) cancellations of freight train services are measured; and if he will make a statement. [50910]

Mr. Jamieson

Delays and cancellations of both passenger and freight trains are measured by Railtrack through their industry-approved train operating systems.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who the winner was of the Strategic Rail Authority's freight innovation competition; by when the winning scheme was required to be operational; what progress has been made to date with the winning scheme; and if he will make a statement. [50907]

Mr. Jamieson

There were three winning schemes in the Authority's Rail Logistics Competition: Blue Circle Industries, Exel, and MinimodalTM. The three projects were awarded prizes on the basis of agreed outputs, the type and timing of which differed for all three. The schemes are all being delivered to the agreed times and specifications.