HC Deb 25 January 1999 vol 324 cc36-7W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the adequacy of track maintenance carried out by Railtrack on the line between Liverpool Lime Street and Freshfield Station in Merseyside. [66732]

Ms Glenda Jackson

Within the last three months the Health & Safety Executive's (HSE's) Railway Inspectorate has inspected the adequacy of track maintenance carried out by Railtrack on the line between Liverpool and Southport (which includes Freshfield station). This action was taken as a direct result of complaints from local residents concerned about noise and vibration resulting from the operation of the railway. HSE's inspection did not find that track maintenance standards presented a risk to the health and safety of passengers or railway employees. A factual statement to this effect was provided to the local authority.