Railways: Richmond upon Thames
Transport
Zac Goldsmith (Richmond Park, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will estimate the number of health and safety regulations to prevent overcrowding on commuter rail services serving stations in Richmond Park constituency that are enforced.
Theresa Villiers (Minister of State (Rail and Aviation), Transport; Chipping Barnet, Conservative)
Train operating companies have a general duty under the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 to reduce health and safety risks so far as is reasonably practical.
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has a responsibility for ensuring railway companies protect passengers from any health and safety risks caused by crowded trains, within the terms of that Act. The ORR also has a more specific role on crowding issues in relation to circumstances such as emergency evacuations and crowding on stations or platforms.
The extent of monitoring and enforcement of these duties is an operational safety matter for the ORR. My hon. Friend may wish to contact the ORR directly for further details.