§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what meetings(a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues and officials (i) have held and (ii) plan to hold with representatives of (A) Network Rail, (B) the Health and Safety Executive and (C) other interested parties, with regard to Freshford station near Bath; and if he will make a statement; [177497]
(2) what assessment he has made of (a) the safety and accessibility of the station platform at Freshford station, Bath, (b) progress with the proposed changes to the platform and (c) the likely completion date of the changes; and if he will make a statement. [177498]
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§ Mr. McNultyMinisters and officials have had no meetings with interested parties regarding Freshford station. However, the Government's independent health and safety rail regulator, the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) HM Railway Inspectorate (HMRI), has had a continued dialogue with Network Rail about their plans to raise a section of the platform at Freshford station near Bath. I understand that Network Rail will shortly provide further information to HMRI on plans to manage the risks from the operation of this scheme. This information will include how train operators plan to align train doors with the raised section of the platform. Once this information is received, HMRI anticipates being able to make a decision on Network Rail's proposal within a matter of days.