HL Deb 25 February 1970 vol 308 cc53-4
THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in view of the recent accidents at railway level crossings, what, if any, extra safeguards the British Railways Board intend to introduce.]

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, the Railways Board are taking action on three broad fronts. First, they are pressing ahead with the modifications to existing automatic half-barrier crossings as recommended in the Report of the Hixon Level Crossing Inquiry. Secondly, they are seeking to agree arrangements with farmers and landowners for the provision of additional safety measures at particular private crossings. Thirdly, they are, in conjunction with my right honourable friend the Minister of Transport, reviewing the adequacy of existing safety measures at those crossings on private roads which are regularly used by members of the public.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask whether he can say how many of the 8,600 farm crossings have so far been improved? Is it left to the individual farmer to approach the Railways Board on this matter? And what has been the average cost to each farmer of these improvements?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I should be grateful if I might write to the noble Earl in answer to these detailed questions. I am sure the information is available, but I am afraid that I have not got it at this moment.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, on the automatic half-barriers, could the noble Lord say how soon the Traffic Sign Regulations 1969 will be implemented and whether local authorities have been asked to contribute to the costs?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, as regards automatic half-barriers, the programme is in hand and all but particularly difficult sites should be completed by the end of April—that is, the extended time cycles on the barriers. The erection of new signs and road markings is virtually complete, and installation of the new traffic light signals, with amber phase and "Another Train Coming" signs, has commenced. I cannot tell the noble Earl how the cost is spread, but again I will let him know.