§ Mr. Greg Knight:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at how many railway stations in England and Wales platform extensions are (a) under way and (b) planned within the next two years; and where each such railway station is. [142618]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 8 December 2003]: It is understood that Network Rail has work under way at Hollingbourne, Harrietsham, Charing, and Nuneaton, and that work is planned at Sandal and Agbrigg, Wakefield Westgate, South Elmsall, Fitzwilliam, Braintree, Braintree Freeport, Cressing, White Notley, Harrow and Wealdstone, Bushey, Kings Langley, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Tring, Cheddington, Bletchley, Billingshurst, Portslade, West Norwood, Hampden Park, Lewes, Farnham, Virginia Water, Basingstoke, Ascot, Farncombe, Milford, Witley, Liphook, Liss, Petersfield, Bentley, Brockenhurst, Poole, Moreton, Lymington Town, Camberley, Abercynon North, Penrhiwceiber, Fernhill, Cwmbach, Aberdare, Lichfield Trent Valley, Hinckley, Narborough, South Wigston, Princes Risborough, Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross, High Wycombe, West Ruislip, South Ruislip, Wembley Stadium, and Denham.
§ Mr. Ruffley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the provision of rail services in the east of England. [143527]
§ Mr. McNulty:My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is currently considering proposals put to him by the Strategic Rail Authority for a new Greater Anglia franchise to commence on 1 April next year. The SRA will also begin consultation on an East Coast Main Line strategy early in the New Year. This is the third in a planned series of 10 strategies and will consider the best use of the existing line and its links to other areas.
§ Hugh Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans the Strategic Rail Authority has to develop train services to and from Faversham; [143916]
(2) what progress has been made with respect to phase 2 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link as it affects Faversham. [143917]
712W
§ Mr. McNulty:The Strategic Rail Authority recently completed consultations on the proposed Integrated Kent Franchise. The consultation included options for domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) but the aim is to improve rail services throughout Kent, not only to destinations which might be served by the CTRL. Further consultations on a more detailed service pattern are planned for early in the new year and it is therefore too soon to say what the outcome might be for individual destinations.
The CTRL domestic service options set out in the consultation are, regardless of the stations they might serve, dependent on completion of the line. Section 2 is on target to open early in 2007.