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Rail Electrification

Volume 264: debated on Monday 16 October 1995

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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what consideration he has given to the electrification of the railway between Acton main line station and Acton Wells junction in order to give future direct access for fast electrified train services from Heathrow airport stations on the North London line, and the east and west coast main lines; [37264](2) what is the current estimated completion date for the re-electrification of the railway between Kew Bridge and Willesden Junction high level; and if he will now request Railtrack and the relevant railway operator companies to initiate, in part or in whole, a frequent electrified train service from North Woolwich to South London via Willesden and Clapham Junction; [37261](3) what consideration he has given to the electrification of the railway between South Acton at Kew Junctions and the Kew Bridge chord in order to give direct access from the south-western electrified networks to the North London line, the east and west coast main lines, and an alternative route for channel tunnel passenger stock to and from its North Pole depot and Waterloo International; [37263]

(4) what considerations he has given to electrification of railway between Action Wells Junction and Cricklewood in order to give direct access for electric trains from the Midland main line to electrified route to the Channel tunnel and the electrified lines of the former Southern Railways. [37262]

Work is currently under way on the North London line to prepare for the introduction of EPS/Eurostar services beyond London during 1996. This is being accomplished, in part, by the introduction of modern AC electrification between Acton Central and Camden Road which should be accomplished by spring 1996.Significant investment is taking place on this route which will improve delivery of existing train services as well as allow international services to be established beyond London.The changes will allow Railtrack and the train operating companies to explore other opportunities for the introduction of services to meet markets they may identify. It will be up to them to prepare investment and service changes as they see fit.