Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the end of two tone horn warnings at whistle boards on trends in the level of fatalities at railway level crossings.

The Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB) is responsible for issuing guidance to train drivers operating on the mainline railway, including the procedures for using horns at whistle boards, which are placed in advance of most level crossings.

Since June 2007, train drivers have not been required to make two tone horn warnings at whistle boards, although it remains in discretion of the driver to use two tone horn warnings if necessary, for example to give warning to someone on or near a running line.

The Department continues to monitor safety on the rail network, including at level crossings, which has gradually improved over the last decade.