HC Deb 09 January 2002 vol 377 cc864-5W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who has responsibility for(a) setting and (b) enforcing the maximum capacity of railway carriages in order to protect public safety. [24874]

Mr. Jamieson

Responsibility for monitoring overcrowding on commuter services rests with the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). The responsibility for the day to day safety, welfare and convenience of passengers using the railway rests with railway operating companies.

There are no Health and Safety Regulations or absolute limits set on the numbers of passengers who may be carried as all rolling stock is designed to run safely at maximum capacity. Some train operating companies are required to carry out passenger counts on commuters to meet the passengers in excess of capacity (PIXC) limits set by the SRA.