To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many new miles of railway track have been (a) brought into use and (b) laid at each location since 1997. (319072)

[holding answer 26 February 2010]: The Department for Transport does not hold information on when and where railway track has been added to or taken away from the national network.

This is an operational matter for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to this question:

Iain Coucher

Chief Executive

Network Rail

Kings Place

90 York Way

London, N1 9AG.