HC Deb 12 November 1958 vol 595 cc377-8
15. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what further action, following the reports of the inquiries into the railway disasters at Lewisham and Dagenham, is being taken to improve safety of railway travel during periods of fog.

Mr. Watkinson

The reports of my Chief Inspecting Officer on the accidents at Lewisham and Dagenham revealed no significant shortcomings in the signalling or fog working methods in use on those lines, and showed that both accidents were due to drivers passing signals at danger. As was announced last week, the Commission is making a special investigation, with the help of a panel of scientific experts, into this problem, and the trades unions have promised their co-operation. Meanwhile, the Commission is pressing on with the extension of automatic warning control to all the main lines and with the provision of many more colour light signals, as it fully accepts the view of my Chief Inspecting Officer that both measures will do much to help drivers to observe signals in bad weather.

Automatic warning control will be installed on 300 route miles including the East Coast main line from King's Cross to York by the end of this year, in addition to the Western Region main lines.

Mr. Davies

While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask if he would agree that, although the installation of A.T.C. is the ultimate answer to this problem, these accidents have shown the great strain to which engine drivers and firemen are put during periods of dense fog, particularly during peak traffic periods? In the meantime, until A.T.C. is installed, would not it be desirable to supplement the coloured light system by some other fog control equipment, including that of fog signals which used to be employed, whereby detonators were placed on the lines? Many locomotive engineers desire that that should be done.

Mr. Watkinson

I will certainly look into that.

Mr. D. Jones

The right hon. Gentleman must recognise that all the drivers who use this route cannot be wrong. They complain that the siting of the signals at these points, together with conflicting lights, when there is swirling mist on the roads, causes tremendous confusion. Why cannot something be done temporarily to make conditions safer?

Mr. Watkinson

I have already said that I will look at any suggestions which are made, but I have no intention of reopening the matters which were discussed at an open public inquiry. As to the strain on the men, the Medical Research Council is co-operating in the inquiry which the Commission is making.

Mr. Davies

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that certain proposals have been made to the Commission by engine drivers and firemen and that, unfortunately, no action has been taken on those proposals?

Mr. Watkinson

I do not agree because, as I said, trade unionists are co-operating in this inquiry.