Mr. Robert HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the commencement date of British Rail's pilot schemes to test and develop a system of automatic train protection; how much finance is committed to the project; how long it will last; where the pilot scheme will be carried out; and when it is anticipated evaluation will be completed.
§ Mr. PortilloI understand that BR have been considering the possibility of introducing an automatic train protection (ATP) system for some time. On 16 November 1988 it agreed that proposals for ATP should be progressed without delay, and on 6 March its investment committee authorised an initial £1 million for development. My right hon. Friend's approval was not needed.
Although some automatic train protection systems have been or are being installed on a few other railway systems, none of them is at present technically compatible with BR's signalling system. The development programme will investigate and test hardware to enable a specification to be drawn up which will be suitable for application in differing locations and situations on BR's network.
As part of the development programme BR plans to undertake pilot schemes, which are likely to be on the Chiltern lines and the Great Western main line. BR has made financial provision for the pilot schemes, but the amounts are not yet finalised. BR hopes to commence installation of the first pilot scheme in October 1990. Assuming tests are satisfactorily completed, a programme for national introduction could start in 1992.