HL Deb 10 February 2004 vol 656 c143WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the light of the European Commission's aim to reduce the proportion of traffic that travels by road in the European Union, what plans they have to expand the railway system in Northern Ireland. [HL1113]

Baroness Amos

The regional transportation strategy for Northern Ireland 2002–12, the strategic direction and underlying principles of which were agreed by the Assembly in July 2002, does not contain any plans to expand the railway system in Northern Ireland. In accordance with this strategy the Government do not propose to expand railways in Northern Ireland.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the new rolling stock for Northern Ireland railways will be available for traffic on all parts of the current railway system. [HL1114]

Baroness Amos

The first of the 23 new trains is scheduled to be delivered in April 2004 with the remainder being delivered progressively through the rest of 2004 and the first part of 2005. Translink expects that all the trains will be in service by the autumn of 2005. Translink is currently considering how the trains can best be deployed on the Northern Ireland railway network and will announce its decision when this work is complete.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much they propose to spend in the next financial year on engineering work on the Northern Ireland railway lines between Ballymena, Portrush and Londonderry and between Whitehead and Larne. [HL1115]

Baroness Amos

Translink estimates that it will spend about £1.5 million on maintenance work in the next financial year on the lines between Ballymena, Portrush and Londonderry and between Whitehead and Larne.