|
14 February 2006 - Heritage Railways
Steamed up Over New Safety Requirements
Navigation
Heritage Railway enthusiasts are feeling the heat over Health
and Safety Regulations, which leaves enthusiasts having to pay thousands of
pounds in order to keep the railway heritage alive.
Up until recently, the Railway Inspectorate provided the
necessary safety checks required by Legislation for the Heritage Railway.
However, EU Directive requirement means that Heritage Railway Societies
throughout the U.K. will now have to take on the cost of providing such
inspections.
The recently discarded rolling stock trains will soon be taken
over by the Heritage Railways, which will also mean added costly inspections for
railway enthusiasts.
The intention of the EU Directive is to free the inspectorate,
thus effectively providing more time and advice to the industry.
David Morgan, Chairman of the Heritage Railway Association said:
"Many of us feel that nothing would make safety authorities
happier than to see us all closed down.
"The safest railway must be one on which a train never moves.
"The executive had tried introducing new arrangements
requiring the heritage societies to employ an inspector themselves.
"This work was done free by the inspectorate and now you are looking at £200 an
hour for something that can take several days.
"All this has to be underwritten and we have yet to find an
insurer who is willing to do so.
"Today's junk is tomorrow's antiques. Railway heritage
societies preserve our industrial archaeology."
Paul Lewin, Ffestiniog Railway Manager said:
"We could face real problems. With the railway
inspectorate stopping doing the work, there is a danger that the number of
people with the relevant experience will dry up.
"We are lucky in the respect that we are one of the big
heritage railways. We are a £3m railway but there are others which are much
smaller who will suffer."
Ian Crowder, for the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
commented:
"Heritage railways are run by volunteers and any money we
make is ploughed back. It would be difficult to have extra costs imposed
on us."
A Health and Safety Executive spokesman said there were no plans
to exempt Heritage Railways and said:
"This will allow more effective advice, support and
assistance, focusing on greatest risk to passengers and workers."
Further information on the Railway Safety Directive can be
accessed from the HSE Webpage by clicking the following:
HSE rail sector pages - Europe
A response letter from Geoffrey Podger, HSE's Chief Executive, on a published
letter by David Morgan can be accessed from the HSE Webpage by clicking the
following:
HSE Putting the Record Straight Webpage
Article by Alexandra Johnston
 Click Here to
Email This Article To a Friend
|
