Railways: Construction

Norman Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new railway have been built in each year since 1997.

Mr. Tom Harris
[holding answer 21 January 2008]: 46 miles of new two track high speed railway were built by London and Continental Railways for section 1 of the channel tunnel rail link completed in 2003, and a further 24 miles were built for section 2 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. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's Chief Executive at the following address for a response to his question:

Iain Coucher

Chief Executive

Network Rail

40 Melton Street

London

NW1 2EE