High Speed Trains

Stephen Hammond

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when she informed Network Rail that they had to consider the possibility of introducing new high speed lines in the United Kingdom; (217576)

(2) if she will place in the Library the specification she has given Network Rail for their new lines study;

(3) whether she has asked Network Rail to look into any specific proposals as part of the new lines study;

(4) what the commissioned price of the Network Rail new lines study is.

In the “Towards a Sustainable Transport System” document of October 2007 we proposed the generation of a broad range of options, which is why the Secretary of State invited Network Rail to begin work to develop longer-term options for the railway network in March 2008. In response to this on 23 June 2008 Network Rail announced, a strategic review of the case for new rail lines. Network Rail has developed its own remit for this work. The costs of the study will be borne by Network Rail reflecting their network planning function.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the capacity which could be created on the (a) West Coast Main Line and (b) East Coast Main Line by the formation of a new high-speed rail line in addition to the current tracks along those routes. (217607)

Any new rail line would create significant additional capacity on both new and existing lines. On 23 June 2008 Network Rail announced a strategic review of the case for new rail lines, including the additional capacity that would be created. It will consider five of Network Rail’s strategic routes, north and west of London: Chiltern, East Coast West Coast, Great Western and Midland Main Lines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings she has had with Network Rail to discuss high-speed rail in the last 12 months. (218794)

The Secretary of State regularly meets Network Rail to discuss a range of issues of common interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the study being conducted by Network Rail into high-speed rail lines was commissioned by her Department. (219415)

The Secretary of State invited Network Rail to begin work to develop longer-term options for the railway network in March 2008. In response to this, on 23 June 2008 Network Rail announced a strategic review of the case for new rail lines.

Volume 479: debated on Monday 21 July 2008