Written question asked by Andrew Gwynne (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 November 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 2 December 2010. It was answered by Theresa Villiers (Conservative) on Tuesday, 14 December 2010 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Railway Stations: Repairs and Maintenance

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 November 2010, Official Report, columns 52-54WS, on rail investment, what rail infrastructure improvements will be made to (a) Reading station, (b) Birmingham station, (c) London King's Cross station, (d) Gatwick Airport station and (e) the East Coast main line.

Answer: The Government have secured funding for a number of vital improvements across the network that will provide more capacity for growing passenger and freight services.At Reading, £850 million will fund additional platforms, new flyovers and a new depot. The works will allow more passenger and freight trains to operate, reduce delays and will deliver customer benefits on the wider Great Western route.The Birmingham Gateway Project will renovate and improve Birmingham New Street station, which handles 75% more trains and over twice the number of passengers it was designed for in the 1960s.At London King's Cross, work on a new concourse containing a ticket hall and passenger waiting area is proceeding to complement the new main line platform and improved access to the Underground.At Gatwick, improvements are being jointly funded by Network Rail and Gatwick airport to provide a new platform and better passenger circulation areas. The enhancements will remove a bottleneck on the Brighton Main Line.On the East Coast Main Line, Network Rail are delivering a package of capacity and reliability enhancements across the route including an upgrade of the 'Joint Line' via Lincoln, new platforms at Finsbury Park, new flyovers at Hitchin and Shaftholme in Yorkshire and improvements at Peterborough.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 28428; 520 c644W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Rail Investment
Thursday, 25 November 2010
Written statements
House of Commons
Subjects: Railway stations Repairs and maintenance
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk