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21 Jun 2005 : Column 919W—continued
Crossrail
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures Crossrail is taking to compensate for loss of facility (a) on Westlands playing field and (b) at St. Edward's school due to construction works. [5415]
Derek Twigg: The impacts, both temporary and permanent, of the land take from Westlands playing fields and St. Edward's school required to construct the Crossrail depot are recognised. Measures to mitigate these impacts are currently under discussion with the London borough of Havering.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the latest estimate is of the cost of construction of the Crossrail project, including the Romford maintenance depot and related works on the north-eastern branch. [5421]
Derek Twigg: The Estimate of Expense submitted with the Crossrail hybrid Bill estimates the cost of Crossrail as £10.292 billion in first quarter 2002 prices.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the likely cost of construction of the Crossrail project, including maintenance depot and related works, on the north-eastern route, if the depot were to be built at site (a) GE1, Cowbridge Grange Farm, (b) GE2, Little Cowbridge Grange, (c) GE7, Arnold's Wood, (d) GE9, Brentwood Allotments, (e) GE10, Brentwood A12 Hotel site and (f) GE12, Harold Court. [5422]
Derek Twigg: No such estimates have been made for these sites as they were discounted after stage one of Cross London Rail Links depot location assessment. A report detailing the depot site selection process was released by Cross London Rail Links on 26 May 2005 and is available on their website.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate has been made of the incremental (a) net present value and (b) cost-benefit ratio to Crossrail for (i) Whitechapel station and (ii) the Shenfield branch line to Liverpool Street. [5424]
Derek Twigg: I understand from Cross London Rail Links that the incremental benefit: cost ratio for the Shenfield branch is 8.7:1 (calculated by adding that branch to a base scheme of Paddington to Isle of Dogs). The Net Present Value (defined as the Present Value of Benefits minus the Present Value of Costs) for the Shenfield branch is +£6,258 million. Their estimates are at first quarter 2002 prices.
The analysis of costs and benefits is not disaggregated to the level of individual stations. However, the incremental cost of Whitechapel station is some £320 million, including risk and contingency, at first quarter 2002 prices.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment Network Rail has made of Crossrail plans for (a) operations over the great eastern main line and (b) increased services from Stansted and Hertford East into London. [5425]
Derek Twigg:
As part of ongoing discussion between Network Rail, Department for Transport and Cross London Rail Links Ltd. (CLRL), timetabling information
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and modelling studies for Crossrail undertaken by CLRL are being shared with Network Rail for their comment, further development and, in due course, verification.
By releasing platform capacity at Liverpool Street, Crossrail would improve the potential for expansion of services from the Lea Valley.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether provision has been made for extension of the Crossrail system beyond the routes included in the current Bill. [5426]
Derek Twigg: In order to facilitate extension of Crossrail in the long-term, a direction to safeguard a section of the north Kent line between Abbey Wood and a proposed new station at Ebbsfleet was issued on 24 February 2005. As soon as practicable we will begin consultation on safeguarding land for potential infrastructure enhancements along this section.
We have said that we will consult on the possibility of safeguarding a potential westward extension of Crossrail to Reading. We will start that consultation as soon as practicable.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated cost is for the construction of the Crossrail maintenance depot and related works in Romford. [5427]
Derek Twigg: The estimated cost for the construction of the Crossrail maintenance depot and related works at Romford is £430 million.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Crossrail trains are expected to travel from (a) Abbey Wood to Heathrow and (b) Shenfield to Heathrow without the need for passenger transfer. [5428]
Derek Twigg: For project appraisal purposes, Cross London Rail Links Ltd. (CLRL) has assumed that, typically, four trains per hour will operate directly between Abbey Wood and Heathrow airport. On this basis, there would be no direct service from Shenfield to Heathrow; passengers would change at any Central London station and catch a Crossrail train on the same platform to Heathrow. These service patterns are indicative at this stage.
The final service pattern will be decided when the operational working timetable is planned.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government are taking to ensure that green belt land is preserved in relation to the building of Crossrail facilities in Romford. [5430]
Derek Twigg:
In developing the Crossrail route Cross London Rail Links Limited have sought to minimise its impact on green belt land. The Environmental Statement prepared for Crossrail makes it clear that the impacts of Crossrail are outweighed by its benefits, and that the impacts—though rightly important to those affected—are overall small for a project the size of Crossrail. While a small strip of approximately 4.3hectares of green belt land is needed for a dive under at Romford, to allow Crossrail trains to cross the Great Eastern Main Line, the proposed maintenance depot at Romford will be located on a brownfield site.
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Fare Evasion
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many successful prosecutions were carried out against passengers for avoiding fares on (a) trains, (b) buses and (c) the tube in London in each year since 1997. [2511]
Ms Buck: Transport for London is responsible for prosecutions for fare evasion on buses in London. This information is not held centrally.
The information requested in regard to trains and the tube in London can only be provided at a disproportionate cost.
Motorway Repairs
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which body is responsible for determining the highway speed limits which apply during major long-term road works; at what level of seniority such decisions are taken; what the policy is on speed limits in place during periods when working is temporarily suspended; and if he will make a statement. [5952]
Dr. Ladyman [holding answer 20 June 2005]: It is for the highway authority to determine an appropriate speed limit for major long-term road works. For trunk roads, this is the Highways Agency.
Decisions are made by qualified and experienced highway engineers, based on the statutory guidance in chapter 8 of the DfT's Traffic Signs Manual and in consultation with the police.
When works are temporally suspended, the Highways Agency removes temporary traffic management and speed limits where it is safe and cost-effective to do so.
North-West Airports
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many aircraft used (a) Blackpool, (b) Manchester and (c) Liverpool airport in each of the last three years. [6025]
Ms Buck: The following table shows number of air transport movements at Blackpool, Manchester and Liverpool airport for each of the last three years.
| Total | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackpool | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Manchester | 178 | 192 | 208 |
| Liverpool | 33 | 39 | 40 |
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