§ Jonathan ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the investment required to allow Channel Tunnel Rail Link domestic service trains to use 700-seater trains from Rochester, Strood and Graveseno. [162503]
§ Mr. McNultyThe platforms at Rochester, Strood and Gravesend can oily accommodate trains up to 10 cars long. The proposed 700-seater Channel Tunnel Rail Link domestic service would be 12 car trains. The cost of extending the platforms at Rochester would be £12.4 million, Strood £1.2 million and Gravesend £8.6 million. Due to the prohibitively high cost of 61W extending these platforms, the Strategic Rail Authority's Integrated Kent Franchise Consultation Document proposes a service of two Channel Tunnel Rail Link domestic trains per hour in each direction from Rochester, Strood and Graves and using 350 seater six car trains.