§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the number of bridges owned by British Rail that presently require structural repairs or underpinning; and if he will estimate the cost;
(2) what are his Department's criteria for funding structural repairs to bridges, which carry roads over rail, owned by local authorities;
(3) what are his Department's criteria for funding structural repairs to bridges which carry rail over road, owned by British Rail.
§ Mr. FreemanMost road bridges over railways in England belong to British Rail. Responsibility for them is shared by British Rail and the relevant highway authority. Their respective responsibilities are governed by sections 117 and 118 of the Transport Act 1968 and the Railway Bridges (Load-Bearing Standards) England and Wales Order 1972.
British Rail bridges over roads are solely the responsibility of the board itself.
It is for British Rail and for highway authorities respectively to determine their own spending priorities for structural maintenance and other work. From 1991–92, local authority expenditure on the structural maintenance of all the bridges which carry their roads will be eligible for transport supplementary grant.
The Department does not hold details of all the bridges owned by British Rail or of the work that needs to be done to them.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of traffic accidents causing structural damage to British Rail bridges in July, August and September of the current year; and what was the cost.
§ Mr. ChopeThe number of reported traffic accidents causing structural damage to British Rail bridges in the current year was as follows:
Number July 8 August 5 September 8 Information on the cost of these incidents is not available.