Rail Safety Recommendations: Backlog
Debate between Lord Tunnicliffe and Baroness Blake of Leeds
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
I will endeavour to write to the noble Baroness about the detail of that, but there is a particular focus on private land and how we can make sure that safety notices are put up and maintained. There is nothing worse than having a safety notice but with trees growing across it, for example. This is absolutely critical and, as she rightly highlights, it is a real weakness. We need to be very vigilant and address it where we can.
Lord Tunnicliffe (Lab)
My Lords, does the Minister accept that the key people in the creation of safety in the railways must be the operators? The operators must own safety on their railways, which has been very difficult under the privatised structure that we, fortunately, are bringing to an end. It is crucial that Great British Railways has safety at the top of it and that we do not simply look at all these recommendations and implement them. They can become infinitely expensive. The key objective for the operator must be to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable.
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
My noble friend, with his particular experience, brings a very important point to this discussion. With the creation of Great British Railways, it is essential that we allow the robust legal framework to continue. Safety is absolutely at the heart of that work. Great British Railways is working with the operators and with everyone in the system for the benefit of the passengers who use the railways.