§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many incidents there were in 1997 of power failure aboard trains(a) nationally and (b) in the Connex South Central region. [28607]
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§ Ms Glenda JacksonThis is an operational matter for train operating companies. We do not collect the information centrally. Connex South Central have given my officials to understand that the Company reported 64 instances of total power loss on its trains in 1997. We understand further that there were 355 instances where one or another on-train system was affected by some form of power loss, but this did not in all cases cause delays.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many incidents of electricity failures there were on Railtrack-owned track in 1997. [28606]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThis information is not available in the form requested. Operational matters such as this are a matter for Railtrack, which has published information relating to the causes of train delays. From that I understand that, for the 24 weeks commencing 30 March 1997, out of a total of 301,974 delays to trains exceeding three minutes, 951 were attributed to causes connected with power supply maintenance and renewal for which Railtrack is responsible.