Written question asked by Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 14 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 25 January 2005. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 January 2005 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the viability of a direct rail link between Edinburgh and Paris.

Answer: John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the viability of a direct rail link between Edinburgh and Paris. [209626] Mr. McNulty: The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions commissioned Arthur D. Little to make a comprehensive analysis of the costs and benefits of the options for Regional Eurostar services and their report, "Review of Regional Eurostar Services" was published on 17 February 2000. It concluded that there was not a positive economic business case for any of four options for direct regional services to Paris, including from Glasgow or Edinburgh. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has reviewed the market for direct international regional services, including demand from Glasgow via Edinburgh and the east coast main line, and has concluded that in terms of likely demand the position has if anything worsened.

Secondary information