§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What estimate they have of the cost of upgrading the railway tunnel at Ipswich so that it allows free movement by rail of containers to and from the port of Felixstowe; and what plans they have for this upgrading. [HL4295]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) plans to upgrade the tunnel by 2005 to allow the conveyance of containers up to 9ft bin in height by 2.6m wide on standard lm high wagons. This gauge covers all types of deep sea shipping box in operation.
Detailed assessment, funded by the SRA, of the necessary alterations to the tunnel interior is currently under way. The results of this study will be received during financial year 2002–03 and will enable the SRA to estimate the cost of the necessary works.