Lord Berkeleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Statement by the Minister of State for Transport on 15 November (HC Deb, 68–69 WS), announcing the movement of Eurostar's maintenance depot to Temple Mills, whether they now have plans for the disposal of the North Pole depot sites; and whether it is envisaged that part of the sites could be used as a rail freight terminal. [HL21]
§ Lord Davies of OldhamAssessment of options for the future use of the North Pole international maintenance depot and site will begin once the timing of Eurostar's relocation to new maintenance facilities at Temple Mills becomes clear.
Lord Berkeleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the recently announced Eurostar maintenance facility will cost £402 million, given that the recently constructed Thames Trains maintenance facility at Bedford cost £12 million and that for Virgin Trains near Birmingham cost £45 million. [HL22]
§ Lord Davies of OldhamThis is a maximum figure, which includes land acquisition and relocation costs, the construction of an access spur from Stratford International to Temple Mills, infrastructure modifications, design, procurement and project management costs. The construction cost of the depot building itself is less than half of the sum. The Temple Mills building is over 10 times the size of the Bedford depot because Eurostar trains are much longer than domestic rolling stock and because of the intensive maintenance regime required for these complex highspeed trains. The depot will also need to house specialist equipment which is required to maintain the multiple electrical and signalling systems installed on the trains.
The cost will be offset by operational efficiencies, avoiding works that would otherwise be required on the 10WA North London Line, and the value of Waterloo International Terminal and North Pole international depot asset as they become available for alternative use.