Written question asked by Gwyneth Dunwoody (Labour) on Monday, 10 January 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 January 2000. It was answered by Keith Hill (Labour) on Monday, 17 January 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 progress has been made with the train operating companies in respect of installing train protection systems; what timetable has been agreed for the installation of train protection systems in all rolling stock, including the final date for completion. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what progress has been made with the train operating companies in respect of installing train protection systems; [104597] (2) what timetable has been agreed for the installation of train protection systems in all rolling stock, including the final date for completion. [104665] Mr. Hill: The Railway Safety Regulations, laid before Parliament on 10 August 1999, requires train protection systems to be introduced and operational across the railway network by the end of 2003 at the latest. At the Rail Safety Summit on 30 November the train operators announced that they have agreed a timetable to fit 33 per cent. of trains by the end of 2001, 75 per cent. of trains by the end of 2002 and all trains by the end of 2003. Also at the Summit, Railtrack agreed to aim to install train protection at 12,000 sites by the end of 2002.

Secondary information