§ Dr. WhiteheadTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the cup and cone safety system for passenger carriages on trains. [90763]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Health and Safety Executive has carried out tests of this safety system and is satisfied that it would significantly improve the safety of Mark 1 rolling stock.
The Deputy Prime Minister has announced today the elimination of all Mark 1 rolling stock from the network by the end of 2004. We expect to see the bulk of such trains phased out substantially before then, but any remaining on the network after the end of 2002 will need to be safety modified in order to remain in operation until the end of 2004.