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TRANSPORT
Light Rail Funding
Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for Wythenshawe of Greater Manchester passenger transport authority's strategic development plan; and if he will make a statement of the future of light rail funding with particular reference to the benefits of extending Metrolink. [2112]
Mr. Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the implications for Manchester, Withington of Greater Manchester passenger transport authority's strategic development plan; [1847]
(2) if he will make a statement on the future of light rail funding. [1848]
Mr. Norris: My Department is aware of Greater Manchester passenger transport authority strategic development plan for public transport which covers the period 1992 to 2002. It is a matter for GMPTA to prioritise the proposals in the plan, which we will then consider in competition with other bids for local transport resources.
Bids for light rail schemes are submitted to my Department during the annual transport policies and programmes round, and are funded through the package approach. I am prepared to consider supporting light rail schemes, including extensions to the Metrolink, provided that they can be demonstrated to be the right and most cost-effective solution to a particular urban transport problem, where they are planned within the context of a strategy or transport package to achieve mode shift away from the private car, and where they will attract significant private sector and local investment. It should be remembered, however, that light rail is not the only solution to urban transport problems, and the difficulties and costs associated with developing schemes should not be underestimated.
Mr. Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the current status of all proposed light rail projects applying for, or seeking (a) construction powers and (b) funding; indicating the
24 Nov 1995 : Column: 348
percentage levels of funding secured on each project from the private sector. [2256]
Mr. Norris:
Two applications for orders under the Transport and Works Act 1992 have been made which relate to light rail projects. These are the Greater Manchester (LRTS) (Airport Extension) and the Greater Manchester (LRTS) (Eccles Extension) Orders. In both cases local inquiries have been held and the Secretary of State is awaiting the inspectors' reports.
My Department has received two applications for funding in 1996-97. These are for the Manchester Metrolink extension to Salford quays and the Leeds supertram. The amount of private sector funding for both these projects has not yet been finalised. Before I agree to fund a new light rail scheme, the promoters must have secured significant private sector and local investment. Each light rail project is different and the level of private sector investment in each scheme will differ.
Mr. Bradley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the benefits of extending Metrolink. [1849]
Mr. Norris:
My Department has received an application from Greater Manchester passenger transport executive for funding under section 56 of the Transport Act 1968 of the Metrolink extension to Salford quays. Subject to final costs and the value of the operating concession, this application appears to meet the criteria that we expect such a scheme to fulfil.
The Department has also received an initial section 56 application for the Metrolink extension to Oldham and Rochdale, although GMPTE has not submitted a bid for funding in 1996-97. GMPTE need to carry out further work on the economic appraisal of this scheme before we can give an indication of whether it meets the relevant criteria.
Mr. Bradley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met Greater Manchester passenger transport authority to discuss Metrolink 2000 and Greater Manchester's plans for an integrated passenger transport network. [1766]
Mr. Norris:
My right hon. Friend visited Manchester to perform a sod-cutting ceremony at Manchester airport on 20 October 1995. While he was there, he received a presentation from Greater Manchester passenger transport authority on its plans to extend the Manchester Metrolink.
Mr. Alfred Morris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in support of the planned Metrolink extensions; and if he will list them. [2113]
Mr. Norris:
My Department has received a small number of letters from the general public and local Members of Parliament in support of the proposed Metrolink extensions, primarily in response to the recent public inquiries into the extensions to Manchester airport and Eccles. We also received 200 objections to the Greater Manchester (LRTS) (Airport Extension) Order.
24 Nov 1995 : Column: 349
Mr. Orme:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of how many fewer car journeys will be made as a consequence of the opening of the planned Metrolink extension to Eccles via Salford quays. [2088]
Mr. Norris:
We have yet to receive an economic appraisal of the extension to Eccles. Greater Manchester passenger transport executive must obtain the necessary powers under the Transport and Works Act 1992 for the extension from Salford quays to Eccles before submitting an application for funding to the Department of Transport. The extension to Salford quays alone is forecast to remove 19 million car trips over the 30-year period of the appraisal.
Ms Glenda Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expenditure to date by his Department on the crossrail 2000 scheme. [2149]
Mr. Norris:
Expenditure to date on crossrail amounts to some £143 million.
Mr. William O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedure in respect of recording of statements, questions and answers was applied during the public inquiry held recently into the A1 Ferrybridge to Hook Moor proposals by the Highways Agency. [2107]
Mr. Watts:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 November, Official Report, columns 897-98.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to require railway operators to comply with specific passenger loading maxima. [1784]
Mr. Watts:
The franchising director will specify load factors or seating capacity requirements in the passenger service requirements where this is necessary to avoid overcrowding on commuter services. The franchising director will set rigorous standards which will regulate the level of crowding on London commuter services below the average experienced in the last 10 years. Where neither load factor regulation nor capacity requirements apply, franchise operators will be required to use all reasonable endeavours to avoid excessive overcrowding on the services they provide.
Sir Irvine Patnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for continous lighting on the remaining unlit sections of theM1 between London and junction 29. [1706]
Mr. Watts:
I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Sir Irvine Patnick, dated 24 November 1995:
24 Nov 1995 : Column: 350
Mr. Colvin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the results of the consultation exercise on the continuous licensing of motor vehicles. [1791]
Mr. Norris:
The consultation exercise on the continuous licensing of motor vehicles ended on 2 June. The responses to the exercise have been very carefully considered and an announcement will be made shortly.
Mr. Dafis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a list of tram systems currently operating, indicating the number of passengers carried for each where known; if he will make it his policy to promote the development of trams; and if he will make a statement. [1787]
Mr. Norris:
There are five principal light rail/tram systems currently operating in England. Details of the schemes and the number of passenger journeys made on each system in 1994-95 are:
As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for continuous lighting on the remaining unlit sections of the M1 between London and Junction 29.
The M1 is unlit between junctions 19 and 20, 21A and 23, and 26 and 29. There are no plans at present to light these sections but lighting will be considered if it can be economically justified on the bases of forecast savings in night time road accidents.
| 1994-95 | |
|---|---|
| Blackpool Tramway | 5.8 |
| Tyne and Wear Metro | 37.2 |
| Docklands Light Railway | 11.0 |
| Greater Manchester Metrolink | 12.3 |
| South Yorkshire Supertram | 2.2 |
Source: Transport Statistics Great Britain 1995 and Blackpool Transport Services Ltd.
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