GNER has revealed it is ahead of schedule to fit the new Train Protection Warning System to its fleet.

The train operator says a third of its fleet has been fitted with the system which brings trains to a halt if they pass a red signal.

Under national guidelines, all train operators must fit the warning system to their entire fleet of locomotives by the end of 2003

GNER has also produced new safety information for passengers using the East Coast Main Line.

This is in line with recommendations made by Lord Cullen following the Ladbroke Grove tragedy in London.

It has published eight-page leaflets, which are available from travel centres at GNER-served stations between Kings Cross and Scotland.

The leaflets tell passengers what to do in case of emergency and include diagrams on where to find safety equipment, such as window hammers, alarm handles, first aid boxes and fire extinguishers.

Safety posters are also being displayed within GNER train carriages.

In a separate initiative, this month all 900 of the company's train crew are undergoing one-day evacuation training courses.