Written question asked by Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour) on Thursday, 14 December 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 December 2000. It was answered by Keith Hill (Labour) on Thursday, 21 December 2000 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessment he has made of Railtrack's compliance with condition No. 7 of its operations licence in relation to the number of broken rails in each year since 1994.

Answer: Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of Railtrack's compliance with condition no. 7 of its operations licence in relation to the number of broken rails in each year since 1994. [143556] Mr. Hill: The Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR) is responsible for ensuring that Railtrack meets its network licence obligations. The Regulator has informed Railtrack that he regarded the excessive level of broken rails in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 as prima facie evidence of a breach of licence condition 7; and that the ORR and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were commissioning an independent report from Transportation Technology Centre Inc. (TTCI). The TTCI report was published on 9 November. I understand that the ORR and HSE have asked Railtrack to respond to the TTCI report and for a statement of how it proposes to take the necessary action.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 360 c299W; 143556
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Licensing Railways Railway network Railway track Railtrack Safety Repairs and maintenance
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk