§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if the river of fire on new year's eve worked according to plan; [104434]
(2) if he will make a statement on the public transport arrangements in London on new year's eve. [104435]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 13 January 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the oral reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 11 January 2000, Official Report, column 138. I would also add that the transport operators provided the absolute maximum service possible. Tube and DLR provided a peak level service from midnight to after 4 am (20 trains an hour for the tube). Train operators ran the maximum service possible from 1 am to after 4.30 am. LT ran nearly double the usual night bus service. We always warned that people should expect long delays. Most people were able to catch a train or tube before 2.30 am. Despite a very high level of attendance the transport operators were able to get people both safely to the event, and back home again after.
249WIt is true that the "River of Fire" did not live up to some people's expectations, but this should not detract from the spectacular success of the event. Indeed, CNN described London's Big Time fireworks as the
most spectacular firework show in the world".
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) who was responsible for planning and co-ordinating rail services and crowd control at central London stations, with particular reference to Waterloo, on new year's eve; [104611]
(2) if he will hold an inquiry into the planning and management of crowd evacuation from central London railway stations, with particular reference to Waterloo, on New Year's Eve. [104605]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 13 January 2000]: A review of arrangements is an essential and routine part of any major event. All the organisations involved in key services on new year's eve already have them well in hand.
ATOC worked with each of the train operating companies, along with the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority, to plan and deliver the train services on millennium night into and out of central London stations, including Waterloo.
There were 250 police officers in the immediate vicinity of Waterloo specially tasked with crowd control and public safety (and supplemented by colleagues from elsewhere).