Last night the Commons threw out plans for a huge £3bn rail project linking Leicester, London and the Channel Tunnel in the face of deep concern over blight of properties along the route.
MP’s from both sides of the House attacked the proposal which would have allowed plans by Central Railway to go before a public inquiry. The order was rejected by a majority of 165 votes. Earlier Minister John Watts had said this would mean “the scheme is effectively dead”.
Watts opening the debate said: “Central Railway’s objective is to establish an independent railway connecting the Midlands, London and the Channel Tunnel. The main service to be offered would be frequent shuttle trains carrying lorry trailers between freight terminals located near motorway junctions.”
Central Railways estimated the project would capture and retain 25% of the UK continental market for lorries and containers within four years of opening.
Watts stressed the Government’s neutrality on the issue. he said it approved the principle of moving more freight by rail but was undecided about the project itself. “The Government is anxious to see the decline in rail’s share of the freight market checked and reversed,” he said.
But the question before MPs was whether the specific proposals put forward by Central Railways had sufficient merit to be endorsed in principle. He said this must include the scheme’s environmental impact.
Labour’s Keith Hill (Streatham), a transport select committee member, said: “The Central Rail scheme would demolish many homes and properties and would cause grave disturbance and blight to many more.”
Tory former minister Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling) said the company had provided a “total paucity of information” on its financial viability.
Shadow transport secretary Clare Short said of the project: “It is causing blight and upset for no good purpose.” Plans involved reinstating 57 miles of an old route which passed through a new housing estate near Rugby. “The route moves on to an upgraded Chiltern Line, involving the compulsory purchase of 41 miles of the Chiltern Line but Railtrack said it would not hand over ownership.”
She added that Central Railways had not made any approach to propose buying the land. “Not enough work has been done, not enough detail has been settled and the proposal to incorporate the Chiltern Line means it is not a dedicated freight railway as is claimed.”
She demanded consideration of alternative plans which would cost only £100m and allow the West Coast main line to greatly increase its freight capacity while removing an equal amount of traffice from the road.
Former Tory minister George Walden (Buckingham) said: “This is the sort of plan that gives private enterprise a bad name because there is a strong flavour of flavour about speculation about it.”
Harry Greenway (C Ealing North) said: “I’m very keen to see freight moved from road to rail but not in this way. In my constituency the damage would be enormous.”
PA News (Parliament) 25/07/96
