HC Deb 05 December 1890 vol 349 c646
SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, with a view to the prevention of railway accidents, the Board of Trade have made, or will make, specific inquiry into systems of automatic electric signalling between trains and trains which would be an additional safeguard in cases of fog, detached cars, or mistakes of signalmen?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir M. HICKS BEACH, Bristol, W.)

The subject of automatic electric signalling has frequently engaged the attention of the Board of Trade, and further inquiries are now being made. There are many difficulties to contend with, and all I can say at present is that the matter will continue to receive attention. It may be added that the Norton Fitzwarren collision would not have been prevented had the system as hitherto carried out been in force there.