Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire) (Conservative): I warmly welcome the Secretary of State's announcement this afternoon. Will he confirm my memory that Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Great Western main line runs from Swindon, through Chippenham and Bath, to Bristol Temple Meads, not on the branch line from Bristol Parkway and onwards to Wales? Does he intend to allow the electrification of the line to Bristol Temple Meads, as well as the branch line to Wales?

The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Philip Hammond): I am not sure whether I mentioned this in my statement, but my hon. Friend is absolutely correct-the electrification will include the line through Bath to Bristol Temple Meads and also the line from Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads. That will ensure that we can increase the frequency of London-Bristol Temple Meads trains to four per hour and shave 20 minutes off the journey time to Bristol Temple Meads from London, using the Bristol Parkway route rather than the Bath route to get the additional time saving.

Source: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110301/debtext/110301-0002.htm#11030150000728