§ 15. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in the interests of increased safety for the rail travelling public, what increase in automatic train control has taken place in the last twelve months; and at the present rate of progress how long it will be before all main lines and the locomotives working on them, whether steam, electric, or diesel electric, are appropriately equipped for automatic train control.
§ Mr. WatkinsonDuring the last twelve months the automatic train control test length was extended from 77 to 210 track miles. Since the British Transport Commission received my final approval of the system last November, it has been pressing ahead with its plans to provide the equipment on all the main traffic routes as quickly as possible. It is the Commission's intention to equip more than 1,300 miles of route, together with some 10,000 locomotives, by the end of 1962.
§ Mr. NabarroIs my right hon. Friend satisfied with that rate of progress?
§ Mr. WatkinsonYes; on the whole, I am satisfied, bearing in mind that we are at the beginning of this re-equipment programme. I think that progress will speed up.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesIs it not a fact that this automatic train control system was well known before nationalisation but that it is only since nationalisation that action has been taken?
§ Mr. WatkinsonThat is quite untrue, because the Great Western Railway was the pioneer in automatic train control and had it in operation.
§ Mr. NabarroIs my right hon. Friend aware that I think that he gave a very satisfactory answer to my Question? [An HON. MEMBER: "Then why grumble?"] I am not grumbling.