Written question asked by Bernard Jenkin (Conservative) on Wednesday, 4 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 April 2001. It was answered by Keith Hill (Labour) on Monday, 9 April 2001 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the projected cost is of the Joint Venture for the East Coast Main Line upgrade; what the projected amount is of public and private investment needed for this project; what the estimated start and finish dates are for this project; and how soon after revised bids are received he intends to make an announcement, together with the Strategic Rail Authority, on the preferred bidder for the East Coast Main Line franchise. - No figures given.

Answer: Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the projected cost is of the Joint Venture for the East Coast Main Line upgrade; what the projected amount is of public and private investment needed for this project; what the estimated start and finish dates are for this project; and how soon after revised bids are received he intends to make an announcement, together with the Strategic Rail Authority, on the preferred bidder for the East Coast Main Line franchise. [157462] Mr. Hill: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is currently establishing a project development group to take forward the upgrade of the East Coast Main Line and to develop the project to a sufficiently advanced stage for its construction to be competitively tendered. It is not expected that the joint venture approach will alter significantly the overall costs or timing of the upgrade. In view of the change to the structure of the upgrade, the SRA has asked shortlisted counterparties for a replacement Inter City East Coast franchise to review their original bids. The SRA currently expects to receive any changes to their proposals by 17 April. Once the SRA has received and considered these it will decide whether to proceed with a request to the Secretary of State for a direction to authorise early replacement of the franchise. Any such request will be given appropriate and timely consideration.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 157462; 366 c388W
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Contracts Costs Franchises East Coast main line Railways Railway network Repairs and maintenance Train operating companies
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk