HL Deb 22 July 2002 vol 638 cc33-4WA
Lord Berkeley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of the intention on page 9 of the public service agreement announced on 15 July to "secure improvement in rail punctuality and reliability with a 50 per cent increase in rail use in Great Britain from 2000 to 2010", whether this refers to passenger or freight traffic; and, if the latter, what are the reasons for reducing these targets to 50 per cent from the 80 per cent in the 10 year transport plan at a time when rail freight traffic grew by 9 per cent in the last year. [HL5370]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

The public service agreement announced on 15 July, which seeks a 50 per cent increase in rail use in Great Britain from 2000 to 2010, will be measured in terms of passenger kilometres, and therefore does not refer to freight traffic. The Department for Transport retains the target, as set out in the 10 year plan for transport, for a significant increase in rail freight's share of the freight market by 2010.