§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what control the Government have over the sale of the CTRL to LCR; and if he will make a statement. [66501]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 2 July 2002]The Government have no controls with which they could require the sale of Railtrack's interests in CTRL to London and Continental Railways (LCR) and Network Rail. They do have various controls over LCR's financing arrangements some of which are relevant to the sale.
§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of section 1 of the CTRL is complete; on what date it is(a) due to be and (b) expected to be (i) completed and (ii) open; and what its expected final cost is. [66500]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 2 July 2002]Section 1 is currently 87 per cent. complete. It is expected to be completed in September 2003, and should be ready and able to run Eurostar services in October 2003, which is within schedule.
It is expected to be completed within its £1.9 billion budget.
461W
§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated value is of the Channel tunnel rail link owned by Railtrack. [666001
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 2 July 2002]London and Continental Railways (LCR) and Network Rail have made a combined offer of £375 million for Railtrack's interests in the Channel tunnel rail link. This is the estimated value which has emerged from negotiations between the parties.