Train Protection and Warning System

HC Deb 28 July 2000 vol 354 c931W

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to page 49 of his Department's Ten-Year Plan, what the completion date is for the installation of TPWS across the rail network. [133494]

Mr. Hill

The Railway Safety Regulations 1999 require that train protection be operational on all trains and across the network by the end of 2003 at the latest.

Railtrack announced at the second Rail Safety Summit on 30 November 1999 that it will aim to complete fitting the train protection and warning system (TPWS) on its infrastructure by the end of 2002, a year earlier than required. The train operators have committed to fit 33 per cent. of trains with TPWS by the end of 2001, 75 per cent. of trains by the end of 2002 and all trains by the end of 2003.