§ 68. Mr. George Jegerasked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware of the constant delays and congestion of road traffic caused by the railway level crossing in Goole; and whether she will, in the public interest, discuss with the Railways Board the feasibility of eliminating the level crossing by lowering the track and the station platforms under the road level.
§ Mr. John Morris:The main cause of traffic delays at Boothferry Road level crossing is right-turning traffic on each side of it. It is for the highway authority 562W to consider possible traffic control improvements. Whether the crossing could be eliminated is a matter of discussion between the highway authority and British Railways Board.
§ Sir Knox Cunninghamasked the Minister of Transport what investigation she has made into the danger caused by the modern automatic half-gates installed at level crossings; and what steps she is taking to alter such crossings and make them safer for the travelling public on both rail and road.
§ Mr. John Morris:My right hon. Friend has ordered a formal investigation into the recent accident at Hixon, Staffordshire, and into the general safety of automatic half-barrier protection at level crossings. The investigation will be carried out by Mr. E. Brian Gibbens, Q.C., who will be assisted by Mr. Granville Berry, M.I.C.E., M.I.Mun.E., F.I.E.S., A.M.I.W.E., and Brigadier Richard Gardiner, C.B., C.B.E., M.Inst.T., as assessors.
§ Sir Knox Cunninghamasked the Minister of Transport if she will give the number of accidents during the past 12 weeks involving level crossings of the old type and of the modern automatic half-gate type, respectively, and the numbers of people killed and injured, respectively, in such accidents.
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§ Mr. Swingler:I append a table showing the number of accidents and casualties which were reported to the Minister for the period of 12 weeks ending 13th January which occurred at automatic half-barriers, manned and unmanned level crossings. These figures include the accident at Hixon level crossing on 6th January in which 11 people were killed and 51 injured. The information in the table is provisional.
Casualties Type of Crossing Accidents Killed Injured Automatic Half-Barriers 3* 13* 52* Manned 21 3 4 Unmanned 7 2 5 Note * Figures include accident at Hixon which resulted in 11 fatalities and 51 injuries.