HC Deb 14 December 1994 vol 251 cc693-4W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Gospel Oak to Barking line will be fully resignalled between South Tottenham and Woodgrange Park; when the works will be completed; and whether this will take place before or after the proposed flotation of Railtrack.

Mr. Norris

No plan currently exists for full re-signalling between South Tottenham and Woodgrange Park. The timing of works undertaken after its flotation will remain a matter for Railtrack.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the revised signalling arrangements between South Tottenham and Woodgrange Park on the Gospel Oak to Barking line will operate to satisfy the requirements of the railway inspectorate division of the Health and Safety Executive, if the Gospel Oak to Barking line is not resignalled between South Tottenham and Woodgrange Park as part of the Liverpool Street resignalling project; and what is the minimum safe interval required between trains operating under the proposed arrangements.

Mr. Norris

All signalling arrangements employed have to satisfy the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive. I am advised that the required interval between trains is the time it takes for a train to pass along the line between the signal boxes at South Tottenham and Woodgrange Park. This is normally 17 minutes for a stopping passenger train and a little less for a non-stop train. These signalling arrangements are wholly in line with signalling regulations.