CLOSURE OF THE ASFORDBY RAILWAY TEST TRACK

Early day motion 1017, tabled 14 November 2005 by Rob Marris (Labour). Signed by 34 members.

That this House is surprised that the Government is not buying the United Kingdom's only railway test track, situated at Asfordby in the Midlands, which is used for testing new engines and rolling stock for training, meaning that this facility will be closed on 31st January 2006 and the rails then removed, thereby leaving the United Kingdom without any non-main line rail test track, and in the regrettable position of having to hire such track overseas, which cannot be regarded as offering encouragement for UK development of the high-technology trains and rolling stock needed in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, Liberal Democrat 7, DUP 5, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.