§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the incidence of accidents resulting from electrical arcing from overhead railway cables; and what action he will take to improve safety measures in this respect in built-up areas.
§ Mr. FreemanThe latest information available in the recently-published annual report on railway safety during 1991–92, shows that two people were killed, 13 received serious injuries and one minor injury from objects that they were holding, coming into contact with, or being in close proximity to, overhead electric traction lines.
Of this total, one of those killed and one with serious injury were members of staff. The remainder were either careless, trespassing on the railway or were interfering with the overhead equipment.
British Rail has a statutory duty to operate safely; this includes an obligation to maintain fences. Where railways are newly-electrified, the parapets of bridges are raised and lineside fencing improved. Visits are made by BR staff and the British Transport police to schools in the neighbourhood to warn of the dangers of trespassing.
There is no danger to the public provided that persons and their belongings remain in a public area and they do not trespass beyond the railway boundary fence.