HC Deb 29 January 2002 vol 379 cc181-2W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the full cost of implementing the EU High Speed Interoperability Directive; and whether these costs are provided for in the £33.5 billion strategic plan allocation. [28554]

Mr. Spellar

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Mr. Jamieson) on 23 October 2001,Official Report, column 192, and to the SRA strategic plan.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many rail bridges would have to be raised to enable Britain to comply fully with European interoperability directives. [30247]

Mr. Jamieson

None. The directives provide for derogations for projects whereby the existing loading gauge, track gauge and space between the tracks can be retained. Therefore, existing rail bridges built to the current loading gauge would not have to be raised. These derogations can be given by the member states; they do not require approval from the European Commission.