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Bleach Green to Antrim High Speed Track
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 11 April (WA 37-38), under the funding proposals listed in the Transportation Sub-Programme 1994-99 for the reinstatement of high speed track from Bleach Green to Antrim, what rolling stock was proposed to be used.[HL2092]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: Translink has advised that it will use existing rolling stock to service the line between Antrim and Bleach Green.
County Down to Belfast Rapid Transit System Proposal
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answers by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 11 April (WA 38-40), when the concept of an expressway-style rapid transit system from the northern part of County Down to Belfast was first considered.[HL2093]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company submitted an application for European funding for a study of transport options on the Belfast to Newtownards corridor on 28 March 1996.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 11 April (WA 40) on the public consultation exercise concerning an expressway-style rapid transit system from the northern part of County Down to the centre of Belfast, why, if the public response was positive, the project was not proceeded with.[HL2096]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: Given the current financial resources available for public transport in Northern Ireland, there are currently no plans to proceed with such a scheme.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answers from Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 11 April (WA 40), indicating both a positive general reaction to the proposed rapid transit system from the northern part of County Down to Belfast and that there were no plans to proceed, why no application has been made to the European Union for funding; and why private sources who have shown an interest in financing have not been explored.[HL 2128]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The E-way project is not at a sufficiently advanced stage to warrant an application being made to the European Union for funding. For similar reasons, private sector sources of funding have not been explored.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 11 April (WA 38) concerning the expressway-style rapid transit system from the northern part of County Down to Belfast, who decided "that there are currently no plans to proceed with such a scheme"; and when that decision was made.[HL 2159]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The E-way study has been completed but has not been formally presented by the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company to the Department for Regional Development for a decision on the contribution it could make to the future of public transport within the region. Even if the decision on the study is favourable, the scheme could not proceed until current funding constraints are resolved.
Newry Station: EU Funding Application
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 11 April (WA 37-38) concerning funding for railways in Northern Ireland, what were the plans for Newry Station as listed in the Transportation Sub-Programme 1994-99; and what were the reasons for the withdrawal of the funding application from the European Union.[HL 2094]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The project comprised a new station building, provision for
disabled access, upgrading to platforms and canopies, external environmental improvements and a new access roadway. A private sector developer was to provide the access roadway. When this was not possible the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company withdrew the application.Belfast to Dublin Railway Line
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the increase in passenger traffic over the last five years as a percentage of 1995 figures on the railway line from Belfast to Dublin; and whether the increase is due to the programme of investment.[HL2095]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: Figures available from Translink show that the percentage increase in passenger traffic on the railway line from Belfast to Dublin between the periods 1995-96 and 1998-99 is 4.5 per cent. Translink would attribute this increase to the programme of investment.
Northern Ireland Transportation Task Force
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Who will appoint the members of the Transportation Task Force in Northern Ireland; how they will be selected; what are its terms of reference and the timescale for its operation; and what arrangements will be made for public involvement and consultation.[HL2124]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: On 20 April 2000, Mr Adam Ingram MP, Minister of State in the Northern Ireland Office, announced the composition of the Railways Task Force. The members were selected on the basis of a joint process between the Department for Regional Development and the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company.
The terms of reference for the task force are:
- to identify the range of options for the future of the railway network in Northern Ireland;
- to quantify the costs and benefits (monetary and non-monetary) and affordability of the range of options; and
- to present an interim report to the Minister and to the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company for their consideration by the summer of 2000.
Belfast to Londonderry Railway Line
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What proposals have been made since 1990 to carry freight on the Belfast to Londonderry railway line, particularly to and from the new Port of Londonderry and the local electricity power station.[HL2125]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: Translink has advised that no proposals have been made to carry freight on the Belfast to Londonderry railway line.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in consideration of the future of the rail connection between Belfast and Londonderry and to Donegal, the views of the Government of the Republic of Ireland are known; and whether they will be consulted in any future decision.[HL2126]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The Government of the Republic of Ireland have not made any formal representations to Her Majesty's Government concerning the Belfast/Londonderry line. There are no plans to extend the line to Donegal.
Northern Ireland Railways: EU Funding
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in any further proposals for the railway system in Northern Ireland, the maximum European Union funding will be sought as well as any from the private sector; and whether funding so obtained will be additional to and not replacement for government funding.[HL2127]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: Proposals for EU funding for Northern Ireland were contained in the NI Structural Funds Plan 2000-05 which was submitted to the European Commission in November 1999. This included proposals in relation to public transport for both the Transitional Objective 1 and Peace II programmes. Negotiations on the new programmes are currently under way and we do not yet know precisely what the outcome or final allocations will be. The use of the Structural Funds in Northern Ireland meets fully the European Commission's requirements on additionality.
Following the publication of the A D Little report on railway safety in Northern Ireland (28 March 2000), the Government set up a task force to examine options for the future of railways in NI. Part of the remit of the task force will be to identify the range of options for the future of the railway network in Northern Ireland. This will take account of the scope for securing additional sources of funding to augment public expenditure for railways, including public private partnerships.
Northern Ireland Railways: Safety
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In view of the recent review of safety on Northern Ireland Railways, what steps are being taken to
- address safety issues in the short term; and whether these steps include the establishment of a safety committee at board level to ensure strategic rail safety competence and the allocation of a non-executive board member with the duty to monitor safety issues.[HL2137]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: Northern Ireland Railways has a statutory duty to ensure the safe operation of railway services at all times and continues to exercise this. NIR has advised that all issues highlighted in the review requiring immediate action have been addressed. It is understood that the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, which has oversight of NI Railways, has established a group safety committee and that the chairman, a non-executive Director, is charged with monitoring safety issues.
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