1996-12-16 Railtrack welcomes the announcement of European Union funding for rail projects (Railtrack plc)

_______________________________________________________________

date 16 December 1996
source Department of Transport
type Press release

note 393/96

The United Kingdom is to receive #29.6m from Europe for the
development of transport Trans European Network schemes in 1996, Sir
George Young, Secretary of State for Transport, announced today. The
funding package agreed is the second largest of all the allocations -
only exceeded by Germany's.

Welcoming the news, Sir George said:

"I am delighted with the United Kingdom's settlement. The money will
go to transport projects on strategic routes across the country and
represents over 16% of the total funds available for priority
projects in 1996. This is more than most Member States will receive
from the EC fund and reflects the UK's significant share in the TENs
priority projects."

Funds will go to the following priority projects:

* #20 million to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link * #5.75 million for
the West Coast Main Line * #1.85 million for schemes along the
Ireland-UK-Benelux Road Link.

In addition there is almost #2 million for other schemes, with #1.34
million of that going towards four traffic management projects, and
#650,000 for the Great Western Line development study between Bristol
and Penzance.

Note to Editors

1. Sir George Young was responding to a Parliamentary Question
from David Nicholson MP (Taunton).

2. The development of trans European networks (TENs) is provided
for in Article 129(b)-(d) of the Maastrict Treaty. The funding of the
transport TENs was provided for in a Financial Regulation adopted by
ECOFIN on 18 September 1995, replacing the Transport Infrastructure
Fund. The European Council agreed in 1995 that 75% of the available
funds in 1995 and 1996 should be allocated to the 14 priority
projects identified by the Essen Council, which include in the UK the
Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the West Coast Main Line and the
Ireland-UK-Benelux Road Link. Of the 280 mecu (about #224 million)
total funds available in 1996, 208.4 mecu (about #167 million) were
therefore allocated to the 14 priority projects.

3. David Curry MP, Minister for the South West, has today also
made an announcement on the funding of the Great Western Line Bristol
to Penzance study. A separate press notice on this has been issued by
the Department of the Environment.



HOUSE OF COMMONS

David Nicholson (Taunton)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what will be the
United Kingdom's share of the funds available in 1996 for priority
projects and other schemes under the European Community's financing
programme for Trans-European Transport Networks.

SIR GEORGE YOUNG

Priority projects in the United Kingdom will receive some #27.6
million, which is over 16% of the total funds available for priority
projects in 1996 and more than any other Member State will receive
from the EC fund, apart from Germany. #20 million will go towards the
Channel Tunnel Rail Link, with #5.75 million for the West Coast Main
Line and #1.85 million for schemes along the Ireland - UK - Benelux
Road Link. The UK will also receive almost #2 million for other
schemes, of which #1.34m is for four traffic management projects and
#0.65 million for a development study of the Great Western Line
between Bristol and Penzance.





# = pounds sterling

Railhub Archive ::: 1996-12-16 DoT-001