§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the railway inspectorate has made an assessment of the effectiveness of automatic couplings on the express 158s.
§ Mr. FreemanI understand that the deputy chief inspecting officer inspected a class 158 unit before these vehicles entered service in Scotland, and that the automatic couplings fitted to class 158 units are fitted to other BR trains on which they have been operating without difficulty. The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate will await the outcome of BR's internal inquiry into the recent incidents in which class 158 units have become uncoupled in service before deciding whether any action on its part is required.