HSC wants public views on automatic train protection

HSE Press Release C049:02 - 7 November 2002

A wide-ranging public debate on the best way forward for an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system for Britain's railways has been launched by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC).

ATP would have prevented the catastrophic collisions at Ladbroke Grove and Southall. After these incidents, HSC set up the Uff/Cullen public inquiry into train protection systems, which reported in March 2001.

The inquiry recommended a new train control system incorporating the safety benefits of ATP - the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) - be fitted to Britain's high-speed lines by 2010 and other main lines by 2015.

In response, the rail industry proposed development of a more complex form of ERTMS to be fitted to high-speed lines by 2015 and other main lines by 2030, arguing that this will deliver benefits to rail network capacity and performance, as well as safety.

Early next year HSC, as the independent safety regulator for the rail industry, is due to make recommendations to the Government on the best way to proceed. But first, HSC wants to gather a wide range of views, not only from rail stakeholders but also from people that consultation exercises do not normally reach.

A new website has been launched at http://www.hse.gov.uk/railway/atp giving people a chance to have their say. It provides background information on ATP, including the public inquiry recommendations and subsequent work on ERTMS by the railway industry.

HSC is also sampling public views through an innovative programme involving regional focus groups and a deliberative conference.

The debate also involves discussions with key players including Strategic Rail Authority chairman Richard Bowker; Rail Regulator Tom Winsor; Network Rail deputy chairman Adrian Montague; Government integrated transport adviser Professor David Begg; rail union leaders; the Rail Passengers Council and victim and survivor groups.

HSC is also carrying out an independent review of the economic and technical arguments put forward by the industry in support of their preferred approach. HSC will publish findings from all these studies along with public and stakeholder views, which will inform HSC's advice to Transport Secretary Alistair Darling and Minister for Work Nick Brown.

Health and Safety Commissioner Margaret Burns, chair of HSC's Railway Industry Advisory Committee (RIAC) said:

"HSC wants to hear from as wide a range of people as possible on a major issue of public interest to rail users and tax payers. This is a very big decision, with major implications for the rail industry. Before advising the Government, HSC wants a better understanding of what levels of rail safety the public expect. For automatic train protection, what system should we have and by when, and what regulation or other action by HSC is needed?".

Notes to editors

1. The new website 'Automatic Train Protection on Britain's Railways - we want your views' is at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/railway/atp

2. Views and opinions on automatic train protection can be sent to HSC via the interactive form on the website http://www.hse.gov.uk/railway/atp

The address for written responses is: Directorate of Railway Policy CL1, Health and Safety Executive, Third Floor, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS.

3. The Joint Inquiry into Train Protection Systems conducted by Professor John Uff QC and the Rt Hon Lord Cullen PC, recommended that ERTMS should be installed on those parts of the rail network where trains run over 100 mph, by 2010. The inquiry also recommended health and safety regulations to motivate the industry to meet this timescale. HSC is responsible for monitoring delivery of all the public inquiry recommendations.

4. The rail industry responded to the inquiry recommendations by establishing an ERTMS Programme Team, whose report was published jointly by the Strategic Rail Authority and Railway Safety in April 2002. This proposed a longer timescale for ERTMS and development of a version - Level 2 - which the industry considers would also provide capacity and performance benefits as well as safety. HSC announced its intention to review the report and to seek wider views (see HSC press notice: C015:02 of 25 April). The full report and summary are available at http://www.railwaysafety.org.uk/ertms.asp

5. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) is responsible for the administration of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 throughout Great Britain. HSC oversees the work of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which enforces health and safety law, reviews the adequacy of health and safety law and submits to Government proposals for new or revised regulation. HSC is supported by a group of industry-specific advisory committees, which includes the Railway Industry Advisory Committee (RIAC).

6. RIAC is an advisory body on rail safety strategy to HSC, with a widely representative membership. This includes representatives of employers, employees and rail users, including train operators (ATOC), Railway Safety, Railtrack, London Underground, the Railway Industry Association, rail freight and rolling stock company interests; the three main rail unions (ASLEF, TSSA, RMT); passenger groups (Rail Passengers' Council and London Transport Users' Committee); local authority light rail and the heritage railways. The Department for Transport, the Strategic Rail Authority, the Office of the Rail Regulator and British Transport Police have observer status. Two additional independent members, representing passenger interests, have now been appointed following an open competition, in line with recommendations of Part 2 of Lord Cullen's inquiry report.

7. Margaret Burns, a member of HSC since 1998 representing the public interest, was appointed as independent chair of RIAC in November 2001. RIAC is due to consider emerging findings from the independent review at its next meeting on 28 November.

8. Copies of 'The Joint Inquiry into Train Protection Systems' by Professor John Uff QC FREng and The Rt Hon Lord Cullen PC, are available from HSE Books, ISBN 0 7176 1998 2, price £19.50. Copies of the report are also on the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/railway/spad/lgri1.pdf

Press enquiries

All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office