Chamber
Plenary, 05 Nov 2009
05 Nov 2009 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Level Crossings (Fatal Accident Inquiries)
Yes, on the face of it, but I suspect that there is a bit more to it than that. Part of the further dialogue that we must have with Network Rail relates, among other things, to financial arrangements, although we must be careful not to give the impression that we care more about finance than about public safety. However, we are talking about a publicly owned company, so we also have to bear in mind that public resources are finite.
We must be careful not to apply a culture of double standards to the operations of the railway industry; I say that in the best of spirit, as a former operational railwayman. The point I am about to make is not just about level crossings. Over the years, whenever a train running through a red signal results in an accident, I have heard demands for investment to be made to make such an occurrence physically impossible. However, in the case of very serious road accidents that involve drivers going through a red traffic light, we just accept that the mess will be cleared up and the next day we are all driving through the same junction. The fundamental principle, as I said earlier, is that signals and signs are meant to be obeyed.
In recent years, I have seen a culture on the roads of more motorists running red lights. I suspect that there may be a similar cultural effect in some cases on an operational railway. I am not saying that more train drivers are running more red signals, but it may well be that more members of the public who interact with the railway have a pattern of behaviour at those times that is similar to their behaviour on the roads. The consequences of such behaviour on an operational railway are often fatal.
This debate is a welcome one that is only just getting under way. A great deal more has to be said and done about this important matter.
We must be careful not to apply a culture of double standards to the operations of the railway industry; I say that in the best of spirit, as a former operational railwayman. The point I am about to make is not just about level crossings. Over the years, whenever a train running through a red signal results in an accident, I have heard demands for investment to be made to make such an occurrence physically impossible. However, in the case of very serious road accidents that involve drivers going through a red traffic light, we just accept that the mess will be cleared up and the next day we are all driving through the same junction. The fundamental principle, as I said earlier, is that signals and signs are meant to be obeyed.
In recent years, I have seen a culture on the roads of more motorists running red lights. I suspect that there may be a similar cultural effect in some cases on an operational railway. I am not saying that more train drivers are running more red signals, but it may well be that more members of the public who interact with the railway have a pattern of behaviour at those times that is similar to their behaviour on the roads. The consequences of such behaviour on an operational railway are often fatal.
This debate is a welcome one that is only just getting under way. A great deal more has to be said and done about this important matter.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
The final item of business today is a members' business debate on motion S3M-4986, in the name of Willie Coffey, on conduct of inquiries into fatalities at l...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament regrets the continuing loss of life at railway level crossings, most recently at Halkirk in Caithness and, in January 2009, at Gatehead i...
Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP):
SNP
I thank the Parliamentary Bureau and my colleagues for giving me the opportunity to bring this matter before the Parliament.As background to today's debate, ...
Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
LD
I congratulate Willie Coffey on securing the debate. I will talk in particular about the facts surrounding the tragic crash at Halkirk. I pay tribute to the ...
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
I have taken an interest in this subject since I was a district councillor in Dingwall, where there are three open level crossings, where there have been acc...
Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab):
Lab
I congratulate Willie Coffey on securing the debate and extend my condolences to his constituent's family. There is a certain amount of truth in the notion t...
Jamie Stone:
LD
Does Charlie Gordon accept that Network Rail is making £1.2 billion profit and can afford to make improvements itself?
Charlie Gordon:
Lab
Yes, on the face of it, but I suspect that there is a bit more to it than that. Part of the further dialogue that we must have with Network Rail relates, amo...
Dave Thompson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
I, too, congratulate Willie Coffey on getting the debate. Jamie Stone has already talked about the Halkirk accident in Highland, which was tragic, as he said...
Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I apologise for my absence at the start of the debate. I congratulate Willie Coffey on securing a members' business debate, and I am pleased to have this opp...
The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Stewart Stevenson):
SNP
Like others, I thank Willie Coffey for lodging the motion that has given us the opportunity to debate the issue. I should also highlight the substantial qual...
Meeting closed at 17:46.