To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many miles of track have been added to the rail network in the last five years; and how much has been spent on improving and upgrading the rail network in that period. (284751)

24 miles of new two track high speed railway were built by London and Continental Railways for section 2 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link completed in 2007. The Channel Tunnel Rail Link was constructed as a public private partnership project with a 90-year concession and is not the direct responsibility of Network Rail.

Otherwise, the amount of railway built each year is an operational matter for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. My hon. Friend should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his question.

Iain Coucher

Chief Executive

Network Rail

Kings Place

90 York Way

London N1 9AG

Spending on rail infrastructure is primarily the responsibility of Network Rail. Historical spending by the company is contained in the company's annual reports and accounts, which can be found on the Network Rail website at

www.networkrail.co.uk

Government spending on the railway in the past five years is set out in National Rail Trends which is published by the Office of Rail Regulation at

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.2026

A copy is available in the Library of the House.