§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Criccieth area of Gwynedd concerning the dangers arising from the automatic crossing installed on the railway line at Y Maes, Criccieth; what consultations he has had with British Rail on this matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellI have received a number of letters and a petition from Criccieth town council about this automatic open crossing locally monitored, complaining that the equipment which warns of an approaching train is not reliable and asking for barriers to be provided. The AOCL meets the Department's published requirements and I have no power to require or influence British Rail to provide a different form of protection. I have therefore had no consultations with British Rail since the crossing was modernised, although it is aware of the representations which have been made. The crossing has been 589W inspected by an inspecting officer of railways, who is satisfied that it conforms with the statutory order which authorised its conversion. In view of the complaints which have been made about unreliability, British Rail have fitted devices to monitor the performance of the equipment. no malfunction has been reported to date.