§ Mr. Ridley (by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement about the train crash at Ashchurch, in Gloucestershire, on Saturday, 8th March.
§ The Minister of Transport (Mr. Richard Marsh)At 11.55 on Saturday, 8th March, a mineral wagon in the 07.50 Washwood Heath to Stoke Gifford goods train became derailed to the left from the down line immediately after passing Ashchurch station. The wagon continued forward for about 100 yards and then struck a diesel locomotive that was standing on a siding alongside the main line, and a general derailment followed.
A number of derailed wagons were pushed towards the up line on which the 10.40 Bristol to Newcastle express passenger train was passing at the time but, fortunately, at slow speed because of a temporary speed restriction ahead.
The first five coaches of the express had already passed and the next four were only slightly damaged, but the last two coaches were derailed, parted from the rest of the train, and extensively damaged, their entire near sides being ripped off.
It is with deep regret that I must inform the House that one passenger was killed and a number of passengers injured.
I know that the House will join with me in expressing sincere sympathy with 977 the relatives of the young man who was killed and with the injured passengers. I am informed that at 10.30 this morning eight injured passengers were still detained in hospital, of whom one was seriously ill.
The cause of the initial derailment has yet to be determined. An inspecting officer of railways visited the site on the day of the accident, and I have directed that an inquiry into it be held.
§ Mr. RidleyMay I join with the right hon. Gentleman in expressing my sympathy for the injured and for the relatives of the dead man? Is it not a fact that the number of accidents due to freight derailments has lately been increasing alarmingly, from about 300 to approximately 400? Will the right hon. Gentleman include in his inquiry the question of why this increase in freight train derailments is taking place?
§ Mr. MarshThe House should wait until the inquiry has been held. At the moment, the wagons concerned have not even been examined, and we have no idea what caused the derailment.
On the more general point, as the Chief Inspecting Officer of the Railways pointed out in his report last year, this is a worrying problem—I do not attempt to hide that—but it works out at about 3.8 derailments to 1 million freight miles. In that perspective, it is worrying, but it is not quite as bad as might be suggested.
Mr. Edward M. TaylorIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that all of us on this side of the House would wish to be associated with his expressions of sympathy? I do not want to prejudge the inquiry, but is he aware that a most worrying aspect is the derailment of freight trains? In view of what Colonel McMullen said in his report, which was published only in November, are efforts being made to bring into effect his recommendations on that matter?
§ Mr. MarshYes, the Railways Board has approved the construction of 250 four-wheel long-wheel-base wagons on an experimental basis. This is a matter of the design of the wagons. I must emphasise to the House that we do not know whether or not there are any special factors; we know nothing at the moment about this derailment.