Simon Burns MP answers questions on Lords EU rail report
22 October 2012
The House of Lords Internal Market, Infrastructure and Employment EU Sub-Committee questioned Simon Burns MP, Minister for Transport, on Monday 22 October 2012. The Committee expressed its disappointment with the degree of engagement both in the Government’s response and subsequent debate on their report, Tunnel Vision? Completing the European Rail Market.
The report, Tunnel vision? Completing the European rail market, published in December 2011, found that the potential of the Channel Tunnel had not yet been unlocked, despite ample spare network capacity. High access charges, uneven implementation of EU legislation designed to ensure fair access combined with an outdated view of the Tunnel as a unique case were all acting as barriers to rail expansion. The Committee called for a concerted effort to boost the interoperability, affordability and consumer focus of both the European rail network in general and the Channel Tunnel in particular.
Witnesses
Monday 22 October 2012 in the House of Lords:
- The Rt Hon Simon Burns MP, Minister for Transport, Department for Transport; Chris Carr, Office of Rail Regulation, Deputy Director for International Rail Policy and Safety, Department for Transport; and Christopher Irwin, Office of Rail Regulation, Head of the UK Delegation to the Channel Tunnel Inter-Governmental Commission.
Rail follow-up meeting in the House of Lords - 22 October 2012
Further information