There were 360 category A SPADs in 2004. This is 32 less than the 2003 total of 392. The potential consequences of SPADs have been significantly reduced with the introduction of TPWS (train protection and warning system), equating to a 61% reduction in risk since March 2001.

The figures, as reported in RSSB?s 'Category A SPAD report - year-end 2004', are encouraging and have been used to suggest that many of the industry?s efforts to tackle the problem have begun to pay off. However, the as yet unreleased figures for Category A SPADS in the first 3 months of 2005 have shown an increase in the number of SPADS compared to the same period for the previous year.

The months of October, November and December 2004 each recorded the lowest ever levels for those months. Many initiatives set up over the past few years to tackle SPADs have resulted in sustained improvement and the industry is committed to a continued drive to further reduce the number of SPADs.