§ Mr. FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of(a) the increases in road traffic and (b) the 285W change in the number of (i) deaths and (ii) serious injuries arising from road traffic accidents as a result of rail passenger traffic being displaced to road during the work by Railtrack over the next three months to replace cracked rails. [138787]
§ Mr. HillThe Government recognise that the current disruption to the railways may displace traffic onto the roads, where travellers are on average at greater risk. It is therefore essential that the rail network is returned to a safe working condition as soon as possible. That is the aim of Railtrack's current rail replacement programme, to which the Government and HSE are giving every possible assistance. I am advised that statistics to quantify any increased risk arising from any consequent displacement of traffic from rail to road are not available.