A Bill to make provision amending, and supplementary to, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act 1996
The aim of the Bill is to clarify the legislation and regulations on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. This comes ahead of a restructuring of London & Continental Railways, who won the bid to construct the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in February 1996.
In January 1998, the then Deputy Prime Minister announced that London & Continental Railways had failed to find the necessary money for the project. On 3 June he announced its rescue: a public private partnership was set up and a new management team put in place.
Clause 1 of this Bill is of primary importance as it confirms that the Secretary of State is empowered to fund the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and the trains that run on it.
Key areas