§ Mr. HARRISasked the Minister of Transport whether he has received Reports from his inspecting officers as to the causes of the accidents at the two termini when trains ran into buffers; if so, whether he can make any statement 246W on the subject and as to whether the buffers used are able to stop effectively the heavy type of engine now used on most railways?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI have received the Reports of the inspecting officers appointed to inquire into the accidents at Euston and Charing Cross stations, to which the hon. Member probably refers. In both cases the inspecting officer places the responsibility for the accident upon the driver of the train concerned for not having it under proper control. I am advised that buffer stops which have to withstand contact from engines with heavy trains attached are designed only to meet stresses due to collision by trains travelling at low speeds such as may be caused by slight misjudgments on the part of enginemen. It would not be practicable to provide buffer stops that could be relied upon to arrest the motion of trains at higher speeds without damage.