§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if it is his policy to enforce the transition to cup and cone train linkages by the end of 2003. [26309]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Railway Safety Regulations 1999 require Mark 1 passenger rolling stock to be modified by the end of 2002, and to be withdrawn from service by the
1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Locomotive 4 2 2 3 1 Carriages 6 10 12 2 7 Track 46 36 53 39 29 Signalling apparatus 1 0 0 0 0 Over-line equipment 0 0 0 0 0 Other structures 1 0 0 0 1 Combined defects 1 1 1 1 3 Traction and Braking shocks 1 0 7 5 5 Total 60 49 75 50 46 Derailments specifically due to foreign objects are not separately classified. They are included in the figures as follows.
1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Snow, landslides, floods, etc. 1 1 3 2 5 Animals on line 1 0 0 2 0 Vandalism 4 1 4 2 5 Level crossing 0 0 0 0 2 Total 6 2 7 6 12
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact ambient temperature has on rail track failures. [26056]
200Wend of 2004. Enforcement of these regulations rests with the Health and Safety Executive. The Executive can grant exemptions from the requirements, but I understand that no application for exemption has yet been received.
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what further measures he will put in place to control the quality of maintenance and repair of rail tracks and other track infrastructure. [26070]
§ Mr. SpellarRailtrack has the legal duty to ensure that the infrastructure is properly maintained. This involves ensuring that work undertaken by its infrastructure contractors is of proper quality.
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he is taking to measure and control the quality of train wheel maintenance. [26069]
§ Mr. SpellarIndividual train companies are responsible under health and safety law for the maintenance and replacement of train wheels to ensure they remain safe. Railtrack, train operators, rolling stock suppliers and infrastructure maintainers are co-operating to implement measures aimed at improving the quality of the wheel-rail interaction.
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of derailments have been caused by(a) track failures, (b) train wheel failures and (c) foreign items on the track, in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [26071]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Health and Safety Executive does not classify derailments in the form requested. Track failures and train wheel failures are both classified as track defects by Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate. The number of derailments due to different types of defects during the last five years is shown in the table.
§ Mr. SpellarThe assessment of impact ambient temperatures on rail track failures is a matter for Railtrack. They have undertaken considerable research to understand the relationship between temperature and the effect on 201W track failure and have implemented necessary control measures.
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of train weight on rail track failures; and if he plans to introduce new weight regulations. [26057]
§ Mr. SpellarControls on the routing of trains already take account of their weight and restrictions apply on certain routes. There are no proposals to introduce new train weight regulations.
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to restrict train speed and weight to prevent track failures. [26074]
§ Mr. SpellarRailtrack have information on traffic flows using their infrastructure and are responsible for ensuring the proper level of maintenance and replacement of the track in order to keep it in a safe condition.
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many derailments have occurred in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [26075]
§ Mr. SpellarThe numbers of derailments reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the last five years are shown in the table.
Total derailments 1996–97 119 1997–98 93 1998–99 117 1999–2000 89 2000–01 93 Further information of derailments and other railway safety data can be found in the Chief Inspector of Railways annual reports on railway safety, copies of which are available in both House Libraries.