HC Deb 27 July 1989 vol 157 cc833-4W
Ms. Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations cover the evacuation of driver-only underground trains should a fire break out while it is in a tunnel.

Mr. Portillo

There are no statutory regulations. The matter is one for the railway operator. Every effort is made to design underground rolling stock so that the risk of fire breaking out is minimised or, if fire does occur, that it will not disable the train. In the event of a fire the driver's first responsibility is to get the train to the nearest station and inform the line controller by radio. No passenger has been injured by a fire on a train within the period 1984 to date. I understand from London Underground Ltd. that a programme to remove inflamable material from rolling stock has begun.

Mr. Atkins

The information is not readily available in the form or for the period requested.

The incidence of lane closures—affecting both carriagways of the motorways of the motorway and involving contraflow working—for major maintenance work between May and September in each of the last three years was as follows:

Year Length (junction to junction) From To
1989 3–4 1 May Present
5–6 19 June Present
1988 5–6 1 May 30 September
5–7 9 May 2 July
1987 5–7 9 June 30 September

In addition there were periods when lanes were closed for minor repairs such as barrier repairs and patching. The majority of these occurred in off-peak periods between 09.30 and 16.00 hours.