§ Mr. Amessasked the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in each of the last three years track damage due to overheating of rails has been reported to the railway inspectorate; and what assessment the inspectorate has made of the possible hazards to travellers from such damage.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe number of heat-induced distortions of railway track reported during 1980, 1981 and 1982 was respectively 21, 35, and 38. Fewer than half of the distortions occurred in lines laid with continuous welded rails. The last accident on British railways caused by heat-distorted track occurred in July 1977. The railway inspectorate is satisfied with the measures taken by the railways to reduce the possible hazards; these include additional patrolling in hot weather and the imposition of speed restrictions when heat distortion is anticipated.