Automatic Route Setting Railways 2022-06-30
2022-06-30
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Network Rail has been using automatic route setting for over three decades, but concerns have been raised about its management and specifications. A constituent named Paul Day provided extensive information to regulators regarding safety issues.
What assessment has been made of the (a) management and (b) specifications of the use of automatic route setting on railways? My constituent Paul Day is a recently retired signaller who reported numerous safety concerns over poor data quality, management, and security for nearly a decade. Despite his efforts starting in 2012, these issues remain unresolved according to Network Rail's report from 2018.
Automatic route setting is not a safety system and cannot override interlocking, which prevents trains from colliding. The Department has invested in design and testing for traffic management systems and continues to invest heavily to ensure railway safety.
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Assessment & feedback
The meeting request was not addressed
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
A constituent, Paul Day, reported safety concerns about poor data quality, management, and information security for nearly a decade. These issues were highlighted again in Network Rail's 2018 report.
My constituent raised significant safety concerns over poor data quality, management, and information security on the rail network since 2012. Despite these reports being submitted to regulators, no changes have been made. Given that similar issues were identified in 2015 but remain unresolved as of 2018, can we agree that accountability is crucial? Will you meet me and my constituent to further investigate the concerns?
We will never compromise on railway safety, with UK railways being among the safest in Europe. ARS is not a safety system and would never override interlocking, which prevents trains from colliding. We are investing record amounts to maintain this level of safety.
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Assessment & feedback
The meeting request was not addressed
Response accuracy