§ 61. Sir C. Taylorasked the Minister of Transport how many railway accidents happened during the past 12 months; how this compares with the number of accidents during the preceding 12 months; who bears the cost; and whether any proportion falls upon public funds.
§ Mr. MurrayThe provisional number of railway accidents reported to my right hon. Friend during the 12 months ending 30th September was 1,403; the number for the previous months was 1,366. These figures comprise collisions, derailments, fires and other accidents which involved passenger or goods trains.
The Railways Board and other railway operators bear the cost of accidents as part of their working expenses. No part of these costs falls directly upon public funds.