HC Deb 12 February 2002 vol 380 cc217-20W
Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what plans he has for infrastructure works on the WCML between Rugby and Crewe to(a) alleviate the effects of and (b) reduce the number of crossing moves at (i) Nuneaton, (ii) Lichfield and (iii) Colwich; and what is (A) the current status of, (B) the start date of and (C) the expected completion date for such works; [31985]

(2) what plans he has for upgrading the power signal boxes on the WCML at (a) Warrington, (b) Preston and (c) Carlisle; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works; [31994]

(3) what plans he has for the redevelopment of the Styal Line junction at (a) Wilmslow, (b) Heald Green and (c) Slade Lane on the WCML; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works; [31998]

(4) what plans he has for upgrading the manual signal boxes at (a) Basford Hall, (b) Crewe Coal Yard, (c) Salop Goods and (d) Grest Lane and what is the (i) status of, (ii) start date of and (iii) expected completion date for such works; [31988]

(5) what plans he has for infrastructure works to (a) alleviate the effects of and (b) reduce the number of crossing moves (i) to the north and south of Crewe Station on the Stafford to Preston route of the WCML, (ii) at Norton Bridge Junction to and from the Manchester line and (iii) at Basford Hall; and what is (1) the status of, (2) the start date of and (C) the expected completion date for such works; [31989]

(6) what plans he has for infrastructure works on the WCML between Crewe and Manchester to allow additional capacity between Crewe and Manchester airport; and what is (a) the status of, (b) the start date of and (c) the expected completion date for the expected resulting capacity increase between Crewe and Manchester airport of such works; [31997]

(7) what plans he has for infrastructure works on the WCML between Stafford and Colwich to alleviate the effects of slow line conflicts at (a) Milford, (b) Whitehouse and (c) Trent Valley Junction at Stafford; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works; [31987]

(8) what plans he has for the provision of additional track and for alternative projects, to alleviate the capacity constraints caused by the mixture of fast and slow trains on the WCML between (a) Birmingham and Wolverhampton and (b) Birmingham and Rugby; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the extended completion date for such work; [31986]

(9) what plans he has for the development of additional tracks on the 2-track stretches of the WCML between Crewe and Carlisle; and what is (a) the percentage of the route due to remain 2-track following from, (b) the status of, (c) the start date of and (d) the expected completion date for such works; [31990]

(10) what plans he has for redevelopment of the junctions at (a) Ardwick and (b) Stockport (Edgeley) on the WCML; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works; [31993]

(11) what plans he has for the redevelopment of (a) Acton Grange, (b) Euxton and (c) Farrington Curve Junctions on the WCML; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works; [31991]

(12) what plans he has for the development of additional tracks on the 2-track stretches of the WCML between (a) Stafford and Colwich and (b) Tamworth and Armitage; and what is (i) the percentage of the route due to remain 2-track following from, (ii) the status of, (iii) the start date of and (iv) the expected completion date for such works; [32087]

(13) what plans he has for the development of additional tracks on the 3-track stretches of the WCML between Rugby and Attleborough; and what is (i) the percentage of the route due to remain 3-track following from, (ii) the status of, (iii) the start date of and (iv) the expected completion date for such works; [31984]

(14) what plans he has to redevelop the entrance to Liverpool Lime Street Station on the WCML to reduce capacity constraints; and what is (a) the status of, (b) the start date of and (c) the expected completion date for such works [31996]

(15) what plans he has for works to (a) reduce the length of headways between Carstairs and Slateford on the West Coast Main Line and (b) construct overtaking loops on the WCML between Cairstairs and Slateford; and what is the (i) status of, (ii) start date of and (iii) expected completion date for such works; [32000]

(16) what plans he has for the provision of (a) additional tracks and (b) alternative projects, to alleviate the capacity constraints caused by an increasing differential in train speeds on the WCML between Euston and Rugby; and what is (i) the current status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works; [31983]

(17) what plans he has for upgrading the manually operated ground frames on the WCML to the north of Preston; and what is (a) the status of, (b) the start date of and (c) the expected completion date for such works; [31995]

(18) what plans he has for infrastructure works to alleviate the capacity constraints on the WCML between Springs Branch and Flyde Junction caused by the mix of speed and crossing movements; and what is (a) the status of, (b) the start date of and (c) the expected completion date for such works; [31992]

(19) what plans he has to increase the number of tracks along the 2-track section of the WCML to the north of Carlisle; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works; [32001]

(20) what plans he has for (a) the provision of additional tracks and (b) alternative projects to alleviate capacity constraints caused by differential train speeds on the WCML between Wilmslow and Sandbach; and what is (i) the status of, (ii) the start date of and (iii) the expected completion date for such works. [31999]

Mr. Byers

The west coast main line upgrade is a commercial arrangement between Virgin and Railtrack. Work is in hand to deliver Phase 1 outputs in 2003. The train operating companies, freight operators, Railtrack and the Strategic Rail Authority are currently reviewing the Phase 2 outputs. Discussions are in progress to identify a solution, which provides best value to the taxpayer while optimising both route capacity and operational ability, and which best meets the requirements of the many different users of the line. Various infrastructure works are being considered, as are various timetabling options.