§ Mr. John Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the collapse of the Penmanshiel tunnel on 17 March; and 620W if he will hold a public inquiry into this incident, in view of the fact that contractor's staff and main line trains were using the tunnel, and that this disaster could well have had even worse results.
§ Mr. William RodgersAt about 3.30 a.m. on 17 March a fall of rock occurred in the tunnel during engineering work to lower the track level. This work was being carried out to allow sufficient headroom for the larger size of freight containers to be carried over this route by Freightliner trains. About 25 yards of the tunnel collapsed and I very much regret that two contractor's employees were buried and must now be presumed killed.
It is likely to be some time before the line can be returned to full use and in the meantime British Rail are advertising services that are running.
I have ordered a full inquiry into the incident. This will be held in public as soon as possible by the chief inspecting officer of railways, and the report will be published.