HC Deb 06 March 1967 vol 742 cc1054-6
Mr. Edward M. Taylor (by Private Notice)

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on the derailment accident on the London to Scotland railway line late last night.

The Minister of Transport (Mrs. Barbara Castle)

Yes, Sir. It is with deep distress that I have to tell the House about another tragic accident that occurred last night. At about 23.40, the 22.30 express passenger train from King's Cross to Edinburgh was travelling at about 80 m.p.h. when the rear six coaches became derailed near Conington, nine miles south of Peterborough. The four rearmost coaches turned over on their side on the adjacent down goods line and became detached from the rest of the train, which stopped about half a mile further on.

I regret to say that five passengers lost their lives; 18 were injured and taken to hospital in Peterborough, where eight were detained. The Peterborough emergency services were called without delay and arrived at the site, within half an hour of the accident, despite the remoteness of the spot. I am sure that we would all wish to commend them for their prompt and effective actions.

The cause of the accident is not yet known, but it was of an entirely different type from the one at Stechford last week. An inspecting officer of railways visited the site in the early hours of this morning. An official inquiry will, of course, be held.

The House will, I know, join with me in expressing deep sympathy with the relatives of the deceased and with those who were injured.

Hon. Members

Hear, hear.

Mr. Taylor

As British Railways have an excellent record of passenger safety, will the Minister make a statement to the House when her inquiries into this tragic accident are complete, so that the confidence which the public have in the Scottish express services can be fully maintained?

Mrs. Castle

I will certainly consider the hon. Gentleman's suggestion, but the report will, of course, be published.

Mr. Peter Walker

Is the right hon. Lady aware that all of us on this side of the House wish to be associated with the remarks which she has made? Is she also aware that we are most anxious lest the unfortunate coincidence of two accidents in a week should in any way detract from the overall confidence in the safety of British Railways? I think that I am right in saying that there was not one fatal accident of any description during the whole of last year on British Railways.

In view of the reports which have been made that during the last six years there have been three accidents on this particular stretch of railroad, could the right hon. Lady arrange for a statement at the earliest opportunity by British Railways clarifying the fact that there is nothing dangerous about this particular sector of the railway itself?

Mrs. Castle

I am sure that the Railways Board will be very grateful for what the hon. Gentleman has said. I certainly endorse what he has said about the very fine safety record of British Railways. There has been a second accident, as he said, but it is a pure coincidence, and the second was of a completely different type from that which took place at Stechford last week.

The inquiry, of course, will go very thoroughly into any possible relationship between this accident and the much less serious one which took place earlier on this line. I would suggest that we await the report.

Sir D. Renton

As this accident took place in my constituency may I, on behalf of my constituents, associate them and myself with the sympathy which the right hon. Lady has expressed?

May I ask, in view of this accident and the other accident to which my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Peter Walker) referred, whether the right hon. Lady will ask British Railways to consider the possibility of a temporary slow-down over this particular stretch of line till the findings of the inquiry have been announced?

Mrs. Castle

There is no evidence, either from the previous accident or from the present one, that the track was at fault. While I will convey the right hon. and learned Gentleman's suggestion to the Railways Board, I do not think that there is any need for the action which he suggests. I think that we must await the report of the inquiry. Of course, if there were to be any possible association between this and the previous accident we would take action.

Mr. Dalyell

As one who travels very frequently on this line, may I add a comment? Safety on this line has hitherto been been very good. Is it possible for my right hon. Friend to say that she will hurry up the report on this accident? It seems to some of us that these inquiries do take a rather long time.

Mrs. Castle

We shall start the inquiry at the earliest possible moment and the report will be produced as soon as is compatible with the thoroughness, which we all equally wish to see, of the inquiry.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Is the Minister aware that I had the good fortune not to be on that train? Would she say whether the inquiry will be in public and whether those who were killed and injured will be professionally represented?

Mrs. Castle

I cannot say, without notice, whether the inquiry will be in public but the report will be published.

Sir R. Russell

Is is not a fact that a large number of other expresses had gone over that same track at the same speed in the previous 24 hours?

Mrs. Castle

Yes, I think that that is true. As I say, there is as yet no evidence that the track was at fault.