§ 33. Mr. Allasonasked the Minister of Transport whether, as a result of recent inquiries, he has found a common cause in the recent fires in the diesel trains of British Railways.
§ Mr. CarmichaelNo, Sir, but I am writing in detail to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. AllasonIs it not alarming that there should be a diesel fire almost every 941 year on British Railways? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the recommendations of the report of the inquiry into the Radlett disaster in February, 1966, have not yet been implemented by British Railways?
§ Mr. CarmichaelMore than three-quarters of the fires in diesel multiple unit trains occurred in under-floor traction equipment for a variety of reasons, including the ignition of oil leaks by defective exhaust systems, mechanical failures, etc. By the end of 1968, about 2,500 out of 4,000 planned individual modifications had already been made and the target for the completion of the modifications recommended following various inquiries, both public and private, is the end of 1970. I am writing more fully about this to the hon. Gentleman.