HC Deb 21 February 1968 vol 759 cc412-3
11. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Minister of Transport what study she has made of the evidence supplied to her by the hon. Member for South Bedfordshire on the contribution to safety on the railways made by using computers for starting, stopping, accelerating and decelerating trains; and if she will initiate experiments with computer-driven trains, possibly on the London Underground.

Mr. John Morris

An initiative by my right hon. Friend is not necessary. London Transport have been operating automatically-controlled trains between Hainault and Woodford for four years and the Victoria line will be fully automatic. British Rail are experimenting with systems suitable to their more complex needs.

Mr. Roberts

Is my hon. Friend aware that the announcement this week of extensions in British developments in this field will be very welcome, but will he, in considering extending and expanding this type of automatic service as quickly as possible, also consider that forms of control as used in Hamburg may be more economical to operate?

Mr. Morris

I am sure that my hon. Friend will accept that the London Transport Board is ahead of the world in this field. The Victoria Line will be the first fully automatic passenger service in the world. The technology of London Transport is more advanced than that of the Hamburg system. Indeed, it had reached a parallel stage of research and development five years ago.

Mr. Ronald Atkins

Is my hon. Friend aware of the need, in the case of further developments of this kind, to consult the trade unions, so that they will be adequately informed in advance?

Mr. Morris

I am sure that this is a very important point which the two Boards will bear in mind.