§ John ThursoTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of arson on the railways there have been since March 2002, broken down by(a) train operating company and (b) line. [139800]
§ Mr. McNultyThe Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate (HMRI), advise that for the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 there were 162 train fires in Great Britain caused by arson. A table recording the 162 incidents broken down by train operating company and by route is being deposited in the Libraries of the House.
During the same period there were also 84 fires at passenger stations, signal boxes and on the railway infrastructure reported to HMRI, although information is not currently available on how many of these were due to arson.
In addition, the British Transport Police have recorded 388 crimes of arson on the railways during the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003.