GLC wants Channel link with rail too
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THE Greater London Council is strongly in favour of a Channel link and says whatever is finally chosen should include a rail mode.
Giving oral evidence to the House of Commons Transport Committee's Channel link in quiry, Martin Foulkes from the GLC's planning and transportation department said that the rail link would focus on London and generate valuable tourism and business.
''But," added Mr Foulkes, "a Channel link doesn't automatically bring advantages and we must work at using the opportunities it provides."
On the freight side, Mr Foulkes said that the GLC would want any necessary piggyback lorry terminal to be sited "preferably outside or on the outskirts of London". He suggested that an ideal site would be on the south side of the M25 roundLondon motorway.
The GLC would like the location of the rail passenger terminal in London for the link to be in East London, but practical difficulties dictate that West London must be the realistic first choice.
West Brompton near Fulham is the most attractive site financially, involving least capital expenditure by British Rail; but the GLC said that even this would 'need substantial mid improvements such as the West London Relief Road, costing £200m. The GLC is still having discussions with the boroughs in volved and British Rail, and will come up with final estimates for the cost of the London terminal infrastructure at the end of the year.