Chamber and committees

Clyde Fastlink proposals are being led by StrathclydePartnership for Transport on behalf of a consortium of councils. Matters relatingto feasibility studies is therefore a matter for them.

Spending plansare set during biennial spending reviews, with the last year of one spendingreview becoming the first year of the next. Spending Review 2004 revised plansfor 2005-06 and set new plans for 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Work on thecurrent Spending Review 2007 will set out spending plans for financial years2008-09; 2009-10 and 2010-11.

As this is anoperational matter for Scottish Water, I have asked the Chief Executive toreply to your enquiry directly.

In June 2007,Network Rail’s GRIP Stage 1 report into the proposed electrification of the Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh Waverley line was publishedby Transport Scotland. The report summaries the key issues byengineering discipline, provides a high level programme and estimates of likelycosts to +/- 50% quality. It estimates the cost of electrifying the core routeat £124.9 million, with the total package (which includes electrifying theadditional three diversionary routes, as detailed in the report) beingestimated at £264.9 million. Electrification of the Edinburgh to Glasgow line is now being considered as part of the wider work of improvingreliability, reducing journey times and providing capacity for the expectedcontinuing growth in rail passenger numbers on this route. The results of thiswill be reported in September.

As this is anoperational matter for Scottish Water, I have asked the Chief Executive toreply to your enquiry directly.

The promoter has indicatedto the Scottish Executive that no discussions have taken place with Network Railregarding the maintenance of track and signalling for the Waverley railway line. However, The Scottish Executive understandsthat early discussions between the promoter and Network Rail’s predecessor Railtrackdid take place in 2002 where indicative maintenance costs were presented to thepromoter by Railtrack. At this stage of the project the partner who might undertakethe development has not been identified and need not be Network Rail.

Transport Scotlandis continuing a due-diligence review of the Borders railway as it prepares to takeon the role of Authorised Undertaker for the railway, a role that it is assumingat the behest of the previous administration. Until this exercise is complete, itis not prudent to speculate on the validity of the original estimated maintenancecosts of track and signalling, and by what mechanism these costs would be met.

I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-3150 on 4 September 2007. All answers on written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

As this is anoperational matter for Scottish Water, I have asked the chief executive toreply to your enquiry directly.

I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-2585 on 22 August 2007. All answers to parliamentary quesations areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.Scottish Parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-3150 on 4 September 2007. All answers on written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.