§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how many road barriers have been erected to increase safety and prevent road vehicles falling onto railway lines since the Selby crash; [52455]
(2) what recent measures have been taken to ensure adequate protection and fencing at intersections between roads and railways. [52456]
§ Mr. JamiesonFollowing the road/rail accident last year at Great Heck, near Selby, two working groups were set up, both of which published their reports on 25 February 2002. The Minister for Transport has accepted all 19 recommendations in the two reports and commended to highway authorities and rail infrastructure authorities the risk assessment framework prepared by the CSS (formerly County Surveyors Society) and Railtrack.
The highway authorities and rail infrastructure authorities are working closely together and are examining the relevant sites on their networks to consider what, if any, mitigation measures might be appropriate to help prevent the incursion of vehicles on to the railway. Details of measures taken where roads meet, cross or run close to railways is not held centrally.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many road to rail accidents have been recorded in each year since 1997. [52458]
§ Mr. JamiesonInformation held by the Health and Safety Executive on the number of incidents each year since 1997 where road vehicles have encroached on to railway lines is contained in the table.
676W
Incidents of road vehicles obstructing the line not at a level crossing Total 1997–98 23
Incidents of road vehicles obstructing the line not at a level crossing Total 1998–99 33 1999–2000 28 2000–01 31