Transport Committee launch inquiry into safety at level crossings

• Transport Committee
• Inquiry page: Safety at level crossings

The Chair of the Committee, Louise Ellman MP, said:

“There are safety risks surrounding level crossings where 6 people tragically lost their lives in 2012 alone. Network Rail has committed to cutting risk at level crossings by 25% by March 2014. We would like to hear about how this strategy is being implemented and what more can be done to boost safety. The Committee has received many letters on this subject. I am pleased to be able to launch this inquiry today.”

The Committee intends to hear oral evidence in the Autumn. Ahead of this, it would like to receive written evidence on the following points:

• Are current safety measures at level crossings adequate? How should they be improved?
• In addition to bridges and underpasses what other cost-effective measures can be introduced to replace or improve safety at level crossings?
• How should expenditure on improving safety at level crossings be prioritised in relation to other demands on the rail budget?
• Is Network Rail giving sufficient priority to improving safety at level crossings?
• Is Government policy and regulatory action by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) in relation to safety at level crossings adequate? What more should the Government and ORR do?
• How should the legislation governing level crossings be updated?
• How should public awareness of safety at level crossings be improved?

We would be grateful to receive written submissions by Monday 16 September.

As part of a scheme to encourage paperless working and maximise efficiency, the Committee is using a new web portal for online submissions of written evidence. Written submissions for this inquiry should therefore be sent via the Transport Committee website- Please click the link here: Written evidence

Notes on the submission of written evidence
                                                                                       
It assists the Committee if those submitting written evidence adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Written submissions should be as short as is consistent with conveying the relevant information. As a rough guide, it is usually helpful if they can be confined to six pages or less. Paragraphs should be numbered for ease of reference. A summary of the main points at the start of the submission is sometimes helpful.
2. Evidence should be submitted via the appropriate inquiry page on the Transport Committee website in Word or Rich Text format, with as little use of colour and images as possible. If you wish to submit written evidence to the Committee in another format you must contact a member of staff to discuss this. When making a submission you should include a contact name, telephone number and postal address. It should be absolutely clear who the submission is from, particularly whether it is on behalf of an organisation or in the name of an individual.
3. Once accepted by the Committee, written evidence becomes the Committee’s property and it may decide to publish it or make other public use of it. If the Committee decides to accept your contribution as evidence we will email you formally accepting it as such. You may publicise or publish your submission yourself, once you receive the formal acceptance of your evidence to the Committee. When doing so, please indicate that it has been submitted to the Committee.
4. The Committee will usually publish the majority of written evidence that is received, but some submissions will be placed in the Parliamentary Archives for public inspection rather than being printed or published online. If you do not wish your submission to be made public, you must clearly say so, and should contact a member of staff to discuss this. Though the Committee is happy to receive copies of published material or correspondence sent to other parties, formal submissions of evidence should be original work produced for the Committee and not published elsewhere.
5. Committee staff are happy to give more detailed guidance on giving evidence to a select committee, or further advice on any aspect of the Committee’s work, by phone or e-mail.

Additional information on submitting evidence to a Select Committee is available online in the House of Commons Guide to Witnesses.

Further information

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