§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the training periods prescribed for drivers employed by the train operators; and [HL4183]
Whether the training requirements for drivers employed by the train operators have changed since the privatisation of British Rail; and, if so, in what respects have they done so. [HL4184]
§ Lord Macdonald of TradestonBefore privatisation of British Rail, drivers were trained for competence in a wide range of duties. Following restructuring of the industry, training methods have modernised; driver training has become more focused on particular types of trains and routes; and typical training periods have fallen. There is no prescribed training schedule or period imposed on the train operating companies.
National performance standards for the privatised industry have recently been launched to replace certain previous individual train operator standards. Drivers must be judged competent against performance 119WA standards to be allowed to drive, though the reduced breadth of training post-privatisation leads to a corresponding restriction in the work each driver is competent to undertake.
The broad remit of Lord Cullen's public inquiry, following the Ladbroke Grove accident, will allow consideration of driver training and competence issues. The current investigation of the accident by the Health and Safety Executive's Railways Inspectorate will identify and report publicly any issues particular to the accident.