HC Deb 09 March 1953 vol 512 cc83-4W
53. Mr. Sparks

asked the Minister of Transport how many railway train accidents have occurred since 1945; and what was the extent of personal injury and loss of life and the main contributory cause of each accident.

Mr. Braithwaite

During the years 1945 to 1951 inclusive there were 7,893 train accidents on the railways of this country which resulted in 437 fatalities and injuries to 5,057 persons. 3,518 of the accidents were attributable to failure of railway personnel, 125 to faulty loading of vehicles, 1,164 to technical defects in locomotives, vehicles, track or signalling apparatus, 171 to snow, landslides or flooding and 2,915 to miscellaneous causes.

The provisional figures for 1952 are 1,222 train accidents which caused 133 fatalities and 1,093 injuries. The primary causes of these accidents have not yet been fully analysed, but they will be given in the Chief Inspecting Officer's Annual Report.

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