There were still old trackbeds for disused railways lines (great central) that could have been brought back into use for parts of a normal speed line equivalent.
Most of that line north of London has reverted back to nature. Tunnels contain bats and there are sections that have become blocked off as nature reserves or used for leisure. Parts would make great cycleways but they do not really go anywhere. GCR was a major defeat in the House of Commons in 1996.
The House will appreciate that the carrying of the tractor unit in addition to the load is not an efficient way to transport freight. The line has been disused for some 30 years.
In some parts, it has been become a nature reserve and a public amenity. In others, factories and housing estates have been built over its site. Were the reopening to go forward, enormous environmental damage would occur.
Many houses have been built and bought in the knowledge that a disused railway line is close by and while Central Railway claims that it has a property protection scheme, it admits that it has no money to acquire properties or to meet any statutory blight notices. That was the point made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Sir J. Stanley) in his powerful speech. Many hundreds, if not thousands, of homes and businesses face a future that at best might be described as uncertain.
This is one of those rare occasions in the life of the House when there is general agreement between the three major parties. It is significant that the Labour and Liberal parties have come out strongly in opposition to the development.
My hon. Friend the Minister said that the Government are, and must be, strictly impartial because of their quasi-judicial role. However, Back Benchers do not have to be impartial. One has only to look around the Chamber to see the growing opposition to this crack-brained scheme and the number of Conservative Members who will oppose it in the Lobby tonight.