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Significant train accidents fell by 31% last year making Britain's railways safer than ever before, according to official figures published today by the independent Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate.
Welcoming publication of the Railway Inspectorate's annual report, Sir George Young, Secretary of State for Transport, said:
"I welcome the confirmation by the independent Health and Safety Commission that railway safety has improved in the past year, and that rail travel remains the safest form of land transport.
"This is good news for rail users and staff. In spite of what critics said, these figures clearly demonstrate that the new railway industry's continuing commitment to safety is bearing fruit, and prove just how effective the enhanced safety regime for the privatised railway is.
"Safety must continue to remain paramount. The railway industry, and the independent Health and Safety Executive, must remain vigilant to ensure that these improving trends continue."
Other statistics from the report include:
Total fatalities (excluding trespassers and suicides) in 1995/96 fell to their lowest ever level ( down 13 from 42 to 29). The number of significant train accidents per million train miles fell to the lowest ever level ( down from 0.50 to 0.31). The number of incidents of signals passed at danger reduced by 43 from 781 to 738. The total number of train accidents increased by 82 from 907 to 989. The increase was due to a rise in the number of trains running into obstructions and in the number of fires on passenger trains (which in the majority of cases were caused by acts of vandalism). Train accidents due to vandalism increased by 41%.
