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The Government today welcomed the publication by the Health and Safety Commission of the joint inquiry report by Lord Cullen and Professor Uff into train protection systems.
Lord Macdonald, Minister for Transport, thanked Lord Cullen and Professor Uff for their work and said:
"In the past there have been conflicting views on what our strategy for train protection ought to be.
"I am grateful to Lord Cullen and Professor Uff for setting out the way forward on how advanced train protection should be developed across the network. The Government will now be advised on the recommendations by the HSC.
"The report backs the decision taken two years ago by John Prescott that TPWS be fitted network-wide. This work is already in hand to an accelerated timetable.
"The Government is also keen to see the new European train protection system introduced on our high speed network as soon as practicable."
The new European train protection system recommended by the joint inquiry is still being trialled and The West Coast Main Line will be one of the first in Europe to be fitted with it. In the meantime the industry will be pressing ahead to ensure network-wide fitment of TPWS by the end of 2003 in accordance with this Government's instructions in 1999.
It is too early to estimate accurately the costs of implementing the joint inquiry recommendations and where exactly they will fall. The Government stands behind the categorical assurance given to Parliament last July by the Deputy Prime Minister that the Ten Year Plan will deliver measures arising from the inquiry.
Notes for Editors 1. Copies of the joint inquiry report are available from the Health and Safety Executive Press Office on 020 7717 6903/5.
2. In 1989 the Hidden Inquiry into the Clapham rail crash recommended that automatic train protection (ATP) should be implemented 5 years after the specific type of ATP had been selected.
3. In 1995 the then Government agreed with advice from BR and Railtrack, endorsed in broad terms by the HSC, that network-wide fitment of ATP, as piloted by BR, was not reasonably practicable as the costs far outweighed the safety benefits. The Government did endorse the view of HSC that ATP measures may be justified on high-speed parts of the network.
4. Regulations made in 1999 required the fitment of Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) train protection on all trains and at key junctions by the end of 2003, and full ATP train protection where reasonably practicable.
Press Enquiries: 020 7944 3108; out of hours 020 7944 5925/5945 Public Enquiries Unit: 020 7944 3333; Email: press@dtlr.gov.uk
