§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Transport if the railway inspectorate is to investigate the incidents on the Central line recently when numerous trains were damaged by an unaligned section of conductor rail near St. Paul's; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerLondon Regional Transport reported the circumstances of the damage to trains to the railway inspectorate, as required by statute. The inspectorate is satisfied that the cause has been established and that measures are being taken to reduce the chances of a recurrence. Unlike the difficulties experienced in November 1982 on the Central line, described in the railway inspectorate's published annual report for 1982, the problem this time was not a misaligned conductor rail, but settlement of the track following night-time maintenance work.
§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate London Regional Transport has made of the cost (a) in lost revenue and (b) in repairs to stock and track, of the recent incidents on the Central line arising from an unaligned section of conductor rail near St. Paul's; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI understand from London Regional Transport that preliminary estimates suggest the loss of revenue to be about £10⤓20,000 and the cost of repairs to the rolling stock and track to be in the order of £40,000.