To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will report progress on the Heathrow to London rail link. [87731

Work on the Heathrow express project, financed by BAA plc, is progressing well. It expects to start operating in June 1998.

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the project is on schedule and will provide a wonderful facility from the airport direct to Paddington? Is he confident that additional services may be grafted on to the line to serve other stations in addition to a full express service?

I confirm what my hon. Friend just said. It is a £350 million investment by the private sector in improving infrastructure in London, which puts a gloss on the debate that we had earlier in Question Time, in which it was implied that improvement could come only through public finance.

As to grafting on further services, I was encouraged to hear that BAA recently announced that it is considering the introduction of a sister service to the Heathrow express. That service, which could start in 1999, would operate between St. Pancras and Heathrow and would include some local stops. That would clearly be of great advantage to the travelling public in London.