HC Deb 26 January 2004 vol 417 cc37-8W
John Thurso

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in the rail freight gauge and capacity enhancements(a) Felixstowe to Nuneaton (Phase 2), (b) Southampton to West Coast Mainline (Gauge), (c) north London and Great Eastern Freight Works, (d) West Midland Freight Works, (e) re-opening Portishead line for freight and new line to port, (f) Transpennine/South Humberside freight capacity works and (g) for freight services to Royal Portbury Docks, Bristol. [149709]

Mr. McNulty

Progress is as follows:

  1. (a) Physical works between Felixstowe and Ipswich have been completed. A study commissioned by Network Rail for the Ipswich-Peterborough work has been completed.
  2. (b) Detailed structure surveys are being undertaken.
  3. (c) Gauge enhancement through the Ipswich Tunnel is programmed to take place this summer. Options to improve cross-London capacity are being evaluated.
  4. (d) The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) are considering whether work to provide additional capacity for freight can be carried out in conjunction with the routine re-signalling schemes proposed by Network Rail for the Saltley signal box area and at Stourbridge.
  5. (e) The Portishead line has been re-opened and the new line to the port has been opened.
  6. (f) Network Rail are considering the requirements and will report the cost estimates to the SRA in the spring.
  7. (g) Freight services to the docks are now operating.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many freight access grants have been made in the last 12 months; and what the total sum paid was. [150013]

Mr. McNulty

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has not awarded any new Track Access Grants (TAGs) in the last 12 months, three existing grants had their contracts extended. Records of the amount paid through TAGs are held by financial years. Since April 2003 £14.2 million has been paid by the SRA in TAGs. Payments for previous years are reported in the SRA's Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he was consulted before the Strategic Rail Authority introduced its moratorium on freight access grants. [150050]

Mr. McNulty

Yes.