HC Deb 03 July 2000 vol 353 c84W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the performance of driverless trains on the London Underground in relation to attributable delays, with special reference to peak hour traffic; and for what reason not all new rolling stock is equipped for driverless operation. [128041]

Mr. Hill

All London Underground trains have drivers. However, it is true that Automatic Train Operation (ATO) gives improved consistency of performance. ATO is already used on the Victoria line and on parts of the Central line. The driver, however, can always override the system if necessary. There are plans to extend its use on the Central line later this year and ATO for other lines will be considered at times of major upgrade.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the performance of the London Underground Central Line in 1999 in relation to attributable delays, with special reference to the age of rolling stock involved. [128040]

Mr. Hill

New rolling stock was introduced on the Central Line in 1993 and 1994, which incorporated a number of revolutionary new train system developments from which passengers are already benefiting. London Underground are working to remedy particular problems with the final trainborne element of the Automatic Train Operation (ATO) signalling system.