§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail workers have been injured while working on rail lines, in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [60392]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe numbers of workers injured while working on rail lines in each year since 1997 is as follows:
1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Major injuries 6 3 3 2 Minor injuries 18 7 12 4 The Railway Group Safety Plan for 2001–02 sets out a number of detailed targets for reducing risks to railway staff working on Railtrack's infrastructure.
§ Gillian MerronTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to introduce legislation requiring rail network companies to introduce a specific type of safety mechanism onto rolling stock over a certain age; and if he will make a statement. [63695]
§ Mr. SpellarThere is no safety legislation relating specifically to the age of rolling stock. The Railway Safety Regulations 1999 require a form of automatic train protection where reasonably practical, for example the Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS), to be fitted on all trains and key signals throughout the rail network by the end of 2003.
Under the same regulations all Mark 1 rolling stock must be fitted with a safety modification (to prevent overriding in the event of two Mark 1 carriages colliding in an accident) by the end of 2002, in order to remain in service until the end of 2004 when they will finally be withdrawn from service. An exemption from the regulations can only be granted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE is currently conducting a public consultation on an application for exemption to fit the safety modification received from the three Mark 1 train operating companies, South West Trains, Connex South Eastern and South Central. The HSE is expected to make a decision in the autumn.