§ LORD BUCKHURST, in moving for returns relating to the use of telegraph block systems on Railways, said, he would ask their Lordships' attention for a very few moments to the subject in connection with railway accidents. In the Report of the Board of Trade laid on the Table of their Lordships' House last Session, and which contained an investigation into a considerable number of railway accidents, very frequent allusion was made to the telegraph block system as a great safeguard against accidents. Their Lordships were probably aware that the object of what was known as the telegraph block system was to secure intervals of space between trains following one another instead of intervals of time; and it is worthy of remark that out of 61 accidents by collisions of following trains noticed in the Report, 36 were more or less attributable to a want of securing better intervals of space. He might, perhaps, read the words of Captain Tyler in the Report—
The principle of securing intervals of space in place of time intervals between trains, which has now become generally known as the block system, is one improvement on which much has of late been said, and the extension of which the inspecting officers have had occasion constantly, and too much in vain, to recommend during many years,It was also very noticeable in the Report—though he did not wish to lay too much stress on this point, as there might be other causes—but it was certainly remarkable that on those lines where this system was most completely adopted there were fewer accidents by collisions of trains. On the South-Eastern line, where this system was made use of, no accident was mentioned as requiring investigation; while on some other lines which had not this mode of securing intervals of space, a very large number of accidents were recorded. As their Lordships were so frequently engaged on questions relating to railways, he had ventured to suggest that the information which this Return would supply might not be without its use. He begged to move for a Return of Railways in the United Kingdom, showing those which are worked by telegraph block systems.
§ Motion agreed to.