HC Deb 11 March 2002 vol 381 cc733-5W
Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has for infrastructure works on the channel tunnel route to(a) alleviate the effects of and (b) reduce the number of conflicting moves in the area between Charing Cross and Hither Green; and what is the (i) status of, (ii) start date of and (iii) expected completion date for such works. [32995]

Mr. Byers

Significant capacity on the existing network will be freed up in 2007, when the channel tunnel rail link (CTRL) is planned to open. A new franchise, independent of the Connex South Eastern franchise, will offer fast domestic services on the CTRL from Kent, with new trains, and will contribute to major reduction in overcrowding. A franchise proposal for such services will be published later this year.