§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on recent incidents of signals passed at danger by trains on lines on the approaches to Paddington Station. [128375]
§ Mr. HillThe Health and Safety Executive independently investigates all serious incidents of signals passed at danger (SPADs). They are investigating a number of recent incidents in the Paddington area, and in particular an incident on 16 June when a Thames Trains Turbo passed a signal at danger at Royal Oak. HSE has ensured that the computer tapes from the signal box and from the train's on-board data recorders have been secured as evidence. HSE has also been seeking further assurances from Railtrack regarding the safe working of trains between Slough and Paddington. Following the completion of HSE's inquiries, the results of their investigations will be included in HSE's monthly "signals passed at danger" report to Ministers, copies of which are placed in the House of Commons Library.