§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Transport if any specific tests or technical 486W evaluation will be made by his Department of the advanced passenger train before it is put into service.
§ Mr. FowlerNo. The responsibility for design and testing of new rolling stock rests with the Railways Board as part of its statutory responsibility for the safety of operation.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Transport how many serious failures, breakdowns or accidents have occurred in the course of testing the advanced passenger train by British Railways.
§ Mr. FowlerThe only serious failure, breakdown or accident has been the derailment that occurred on 18 April 1980.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Transport what special safety features will be built into the advanced passenger train before it is put into service on the main Euston-Glasgow run.
§ Mr. FowlerSafety considerations were an important aspect in the design and development of the APT and there is no need now to build in any further special safety features before it enters passenger service.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Transport if he will hold a public inquiry into the derailment of a coach of the advanced passenger train in Lancashire in the second week in April.
§ Mr. FowlerNo. The cause of the derailment has already been determined and made public by the Railways Board as a fault in the assembly of the wheel-set involved, and the necessary precautions against a recurrence are already in hand.