HC Deb 25 January 1995 vol 253 cc197-9W
Mr. Bayley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail passengers were killed or injured (i) by the opening or closing of carriage doors, falling through open doors or entering or alighting from trains and (ii) during train movement for each of the last five years (a) over the whole rail network, (b) in the Network SouthEast region, (c) in mark I electrical multiple unit slam door rolling stock in the Network SouthEast region and (d) in Networker 465 rolling stock in the Network SouthEast region.

Mr. Watts

The table gives the details requested of passenger injuries for all railways in Great Britain since 1989.

The following table gives details for Network SouthEast and covers the period from its creation in 1992 to its reorganisation in March 1994, following the restructuring of the railway industry.

Passenger Injuries All railways Great Britain Entering or alighting from trains
Fatal Major injuries Minor injuries Total
1989 2 51 691 744
1990 2 55 736 793
1991–92 0 39 623 662
1992–93 3 34 665 702
1993–94 0 9 652 661
Total 7 188 3,367 3,562

Opening or closing of carriage door
Fatal Major injuries Minor injuries Total
1989 0 5 441 446
1990 1 13 803 817
1991–92 0 5 637 642
1992–93 0 8 627 635
1993–94 0 2 680 682
Total 1 33 3,188 3,222

Falling out of carriages during running of trains
Fatal Major injuries Minor injuries Total
1989 19 16 12 47
1990 19 9 20 48
1991–92 19 4 13 36
1992–93 9 6 28 43
1993–94 8 2 13 23
Total 74 37 86 197

Passenger Injuries Network Southeast 1 April 1992–31 March 1994
Fatal Major injuries Minor injuries Total
Entering or alighting from trains 0 9 551 560
Opening or closing of carriage doors 0 1 414 415
Falling out of carriages during running of train 2 1 14 17
Total 2 11 979 992

Mr. Bayley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to press British Rail to implement the recommendation of the Cannon street rail accident inquiry that class 415 EMUs should be replaced by new Networker units as quickly as possible; when he estimates that this process will be completed; and what plans he has to press British Rail to replace other mark I EMUs and against what time scale.

Mr. Watts

I understand that the last class 415 EMU will be withdrawn from the Kent suburban fleet on 13 April 1995, along with classes 413 and 416.

The replacement and deployment of rolling stock, and the appropriate timing of an order, is a decision for BR. However, I understand BR's view is that all remaining "mark I" rolling stock on south eastern is likely to need replacement during 1999.

Mr. Bayley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much it costs to strengthen a single mark I slam door railway carriage to the standard required by HM railways inspectorate in relation to recommendation 55 of the Hidden investigation into the Clapham Junction railway accident.

Mr. Watts

British Rail's estimate of the cost of strengthening mark I rolling stock is around £300,000 per coach.