Department of Transport

Watts welcomes the Select Committee's final route decisions on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link
_______________________________________________________________

date 31 January 1996
source Department of Transport
type Press release

note 25

The House of Commons Select Committee on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link
Bill today announced its final decisions on the route having
completed an eleven month hearing of over 1000 petitions.

Congratulating the Committee on their work, John Watts, Minister for
Railways and Roads said:

"The Government has already accepted important changes to the route
that the Committee sought in July. The same careful consideration
will be given to the Committee's final decisions and recommendations
announced today.

"The Government will give its response to the Committee on 14
February. The Committee are expected to report the Bill a few days
later, and it will then proceed through its remaining stages in the
Commons."

The Committee announced its main decisions on the route on 20 July.
As a result, the Government published a number of route changes and
the Committee then considered petitions concerning these changes. The
Committee's decisions and recommendations announced today are on
whether to confirm the route changes. They are also on remaining
matters such as noise protection standards.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The Channel Tunnel Rail Link will be a 67 mile high-speed railway
between London and the Channel Tunnel for both international and
domestic passengers. The cost estimate was estimated in 1993 at #2.7
billion. The Government will provide a substantial financial
contribution in recognition of the domestic transport and
regeneration benefits and also the very large benefits to
international passengers. The final figure will be determined by the
outcome of the competition, which should be announced soon.

2. The Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill was introduced into the Commons
in November 1994 and received an unopposed Second Reading on 16
January 1995. The Select Committee started on 21 February 1995
considering the 993 petitions received. The Committee announced its
decisions on the route on 20 July (DOT PN 230). The Government
responded on 29 September (DOT PN 307).

3. In November and December, the Government published two batches of
additional provisions to deal mainly with the Committee's requests
for route changes. The key route changes were in Barking (an extended
tunnel), Thurrock (moving and lowering the railway near the Mardyke
Park housing estate) and the approach to St Pancras (more tunnelling
and related changes). These attracted 52 fresh petitions, which the
Committee finished hearing this month. The Committee have today
announced their decisions on whether to confirm these route changes.
They have also announced their decisions and recommendations on
remaining matters, notably generic issues such as noise protection
standards.

4. A response will be given to the Committee on 14 February. The
Committee is then expected to report the Bill very soon after and
publish a special report explaining their work. The Bill will then
go to Standing Committee and then move to the House of Lords some
time after Easter.

5. The Select Committee comprises nine members: five Conservative and
four Labour. The Chairman is Sir Anthony Durant MP and the Deputy
Chairman is Sir Irvine Patnick MP.


# = pounds sterling

Railhub Archive ::: 1996-01-31 DoT-001