HC Deb 01 December 1999 vol 340 cc196-7W
Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what technology(a) exists and (b) is under development to warn maintenance staff on the railway network of the approach of trains; and if he will make a statement on the train approach warning system. [100059]

Mr. Hill

Existing technology to warn staff working on or about the railway includes the "PEE WEE" system (a portable system which gives a special warning tone on the approach of a train), the Train Operated Warning System (TOWS), a permanent warning device in some locations where visibility is poor and "Minimel 90" (a portable automatic track warning system). A number of similar systems are undergoing UK approval.

Proven automatic warning systems should reduce the risk of an accident to train workers considerably below the risk from systems which rely on human observation of approaching trains.