§ Lord Berkeleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, as part of the vehicle approval process which has caused 41 new Class 365/5 dual voltage Networker Express trains worth £150 million to be stored out of use, the Railtrack safety assessment panels have made a quantified risk analysis to determine whether the level of risk to which 56WA passengers would be exposed would be reduced with prompt introduction of the new trains, which meet the most stringent crashworthiness requirements in Europe, compared with continuing to operate the 36 year old Mark I rolling stock which was criticised in official reports on the 1988 Clapham and 1991 Cannon Street station collisions as offering inadequate provision for safety.
§ Viscount GoschenI understand that Railtrack has not made such a quantified risk analysis. Before entering into service all rolling stock must gain safety approval; the Class 365 trains currently await such approval. In presenting their safety case to Railtrack, the leasing company or train operator must demonstrate that any risks arising from the introduction of Class 365 trains have been reduced as low as reasonably practicable. Railtrack does not wish to see the process of approval delayed unnecessarily and has appointed a panel of independent experts to review the safety approval process for new rolling stock and to recommend areas for improvement whilst safeguarding safety. For the Class 365 trains there are also other matters which need to be resolved before the trains are brought into use.