§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from the chairman of London Underground Ltd. about plans to refit the automatic ticket barriers on the London underground and as to what is proposed, for what reason and at what cost; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloThis is an operational matter for London Underground Ltd. I am not aware of any plans to refit the gates, but I understand that a new touch-and-pass system of operating automatic ticket gates will be adopted at certain stations for a trial period of six months.
I am sure that London Underground would be happy to provide the hon. Member with full information on how the system works and what its benefits are.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from the chairman of LRT on the240W policy of extending one-person operation of trains on deep tube lines of London; what assessment has been made of the risk to passengers of such a policy; whether this policy has been approved by the railway inspectorate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloThe decision to extend one-person operation on any part of the underground is for London Underground. I understand that it commissioned an independent assessment before introducing one-person operation on the Bakerloo line last year.
Although the railway inspectorate has no statutory role in approving one-person operation, there is full consultation with London Underground over all safety aspects. The inspectorate observed a recent exercise, which simulated an emergency caused by incapacitation of a one-person-operation train driver. The chief inspecting officer of railways has assured me that he regards the arrangements as acceptable in safety terms.