Rail Safety Recommendations: Backlog

Baroness Kramer Excerpts

Tuesday 28th April 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

My understanding is that the reports are published and that it should be possible to look through them in great detail. Otherwise, what is the point? We need to learn from these tragic cases and make sure that, wherever possible, we bring in these recommendations and adhere to them to make sure that they never happen again.

[Baroness Kramer (LD)]

My Lords, I will just pick up the Minister’s point about level crossings. They are a real point of vulnerability in the rail system, especially when those level crossings are on private land. I understand that, in 2024, statutory instruments were brought in to update the legal requirements on signage and barriers, particularly for those private lands. Does the Minister have any assessment of the follow-up to those statutory instruments and whether they have made a difference?

[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.