§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the original source of the information given by officials of his Department that the railway line through Morningside was maintained only to freight standard; when and how the error was discovered; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellWhen providing the draft of a reply to a letter in November 1987 an official misread the description of the status of the railway line through Morningside and thought that it was only maintained to freight standards. This does not imply a lower standard of maintenance but that certain signalling requirements, which are applicable to passenger railways, are not necessarily provided. The error was discovered last week when a newspaper reporter, who had been in touch with British Railways, challenged the statement in the letter. The Morningside line, although not at present regularly used by passenger trains, is nevertheless signalled and maintained to passenger standards.