Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the role of safe autonomous systems in the rail network, such as the system being developed at York's Institute for Safe Autonomy.

The Department supports further research into the application of safe autonomous rail systems in the UK, including the work being undertaken at York’s Institute for Safe Autonomy, which will be enhanced by the new research facility due to open in autumn 2022.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR), which is Britain’s independent safety regulator, has recently consulted industry on the health and safety principles for operation of passenger trains with unattended train operation, which it plans to publish in due course. The industry will need to follow these principles closely as it considers opportunities for the application of safe autonomous rail systems.