HC Deb 27 November 2003 vol 415 cc435-6W
Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the safety aspects of the Dorset re-signalling project. [142787]

Mr. Darling

None. I understand that the project was approved following the submission to Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) by Network Rail of a rigorous safety case. This document demonstrated compliance to Network Rail's Railway Safety Case and safety management systems. The scheme also followed the rail industry internal approval process, which included the appointment of an independent safety assessor. Network Rail and HMRI have conducted regular reviews throughout the project.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Dorset re-signalling project to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the timetable of the project from tendering to completion.[142788]

Mr. Darling

Network Rail advises that the project will be commissioned during the week ending 14 December 2003. The timetable from the tendering process to completion has been 42 months.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what training has been made available to drivers and signallers to operate the new signal system in the Dorset region; and when that training will he complete.[142789]

Mr. Darling

Network Rail advises that it has completed training for all signalling staff required to operate the new signalling system including its associated radio systems. Nework Rail has provided training packs which include route learning videos, to enable driver training to be carried out by the train companies who operate along this section of railway—English Welsh and Scottish Railway, South West Trains and Virgin Trains. They have indicated that this training will be complete prior to project commissioning.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which parties were involved in the decision to go ahead with the Dorset re-signalling project; when the decision was taken; and what information was available at the time on the comparative safety of the available signalling systems. [142791]

Mr. Darling

Network Rail advises that the Dorset Coast signalling project uses tried and tested technology already in use elsewhere in Europe. The decision to proceed with the project was taken during the early part of 2000 by Railtrack. This followed extensive consultation involving Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate, signalling suppliers, train operating companies and the then infrastructure maintenance contractor Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Services.

An assessment was carried out during this time comparing existing systems to the selected system from a safety, performance, reliability and maintenance perspective. The findings of this assessment were satisfactory.