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Thameslink Railway Line

Volume 508: debated on Tuesday 6 April 2010

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of the provision of more than one additional train maintenance depot for Thameslink stations. [R] (325778)

The Thameslink Programme will enable the operation of a high-frequency service through central London to destinations both north and south of London. In recognition of this, the train maintenance strategy is based on there being two new depots, one north of London and the other south of London. A two-depot strategy will provide the most efficient means of servicing the new Thameslink fleet.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the introduction of the new Thameslink trains of the time taken to construct the additional train maintenance depots. [R] (325779)

The current programme for the introduction of the new fleet of trains shows the first trains entering passenger service in early 2014. Our plans assume that at least one of the two new depots proposed for this new fleet of trains will be operational before this date. There will therefore be sufficient depot servicing facilities in time for the introduction of these first trains by this date.

There will be a point in the production cycle for the new fleet of trains when the second new depot will be required. Our plans assume that the second depot will be operational before this production cycle milestone is realised.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether (a) a local authority and (b) other organisations have powers to block the development of additional train maintenance depots for the new Thameslink rolling stock. [R] (325781)

Network Rail has commenced the process for progressing planning consents for the two new train maintenance depots for the new Thameslink rolling stock with the relevant local authorities.

It would be inappropriate to comment on the outcome of these discussions at this stage.