§ Mr. TruswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to increase rail capacity(a) in West Yorkshire, (b) on the Wharfedale Line, (c) on the Harrogate Line and (d) on the Airedale Line; [160932]
(2) what representations he has received on increasing rail capacity in West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement. [160933]
§ Mr. McNultyThe Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has published a Capacity Utilisation Policy and has also developed a new planning framework. A key aspect of this includes Regional Planning Assessments (RPA) which will form a basis for planning rail services over the medium to long term at a more detailed level. The SRA will produce the RPA for Yorkshire and Humberside in 2005, at which time specific capacity issues for the lines in question will be taken into account. I am not aware of any representations specifically on increasing rail capacity in West Yorkshire.