§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 15 March 2002,Official Report, column 1271W on rolling stock, what proportion of the new vehicles entering service between 1999 and 2001 were ordered after 25 February 1999; 949W when the remainder were ordered; and where information regarding the refurbishment of railway rolling stock is held. [45669]
§ Mr. Jamieson15 per cent. of these vehicles were ordered after 25 February 1999. Of the remainder, 53 per cent. were ordered in 1998 and 32 per cent. in 1997. None was ordered between 1 January 1999 and 24 February 1999. Information about refurbishment of rolling stock is held by the rolling stock leasing companies (ROSCOs).
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what rules the Health and Safety Executive applies to the loan of rolling stock by preservation societies to train operating companies. [45304]
§ Mr. JamiesonProvided that the vehicles have not been deleted from the Library list of rolling stock permitted to run on the network, and they have not been modified, they are covered by "grandfather" rights and do not require further approval under the Railway and Other Transport System (Approval of Works, Plan and Equipment) Regulations.
However, the Railway Safety Regulations 1999 prohibit Mark 1 rolling stock from carrying fare paying passengers from 1 January 2003 unless the vehicles are modified to reduce the risk of overriding or an exemption has been granted for their use. These regulations also prohibit trains from running on the mainline railway that are not protected by a train protection system such as TPWS. The operation of the vehicles will also need to be addressed in the duty holder's Railway Safety Case.