28 October 2004

Michael Howard Welcomes Announcement Of  Preferred Manufacturer For High-Speed Rolling Stock

Michael Howard, Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe, has welcomed the announcement by the Secretary of State for Transport of a preferred manufacturer, Hitachi, to build new high-speed rolling stock to run domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

Mr Howard has been pressing the Secretary of State to make a decision on the opening of domestic services on the High Speed Rail Link. At the opening of the HSRL more than a year ago on 16 September 2003, Mr Howard publicly asked Mr Darling for a decision on the opening of domestic services and was told that a decision could be expected shortly. Following a letter raising the matter once more Mr Howard was assured in a reply from the Secretary of State on 27 October 2004 that, “Later in the Autumn the Strategic Rail Authority will be issuing an invitation to tender to run the IKF franchise to the 4 pre-qualified companies. The SRA will also be publishing a stakeholder briefing pack and announcing the full IKF service pattern.”

Mr Howard said:

“Although I am pleased that we are one step closer to the opening of domestic services on the High Speed Rail Link, it is still not clear whether or not Folkestone will be included in the route. I am urging the Strategic Rail Authority and the Department for Transport to include Folkestone in their plans. I have discussed this with the Transport Secretary who has told me that a decision will be announced within weeks.”