§ 26. Sir Percy Hurdasked the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry 1767 of War Transport whether he will consult with experts as to the best way of assisting passengers on the Underground Railway to identify stations as they pass, in view of the dim lighting of stations, the shrouding of carriage windows and the indistinct voices of women porters?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of War Transport (Colonel Llewellin)On open stations lighting and the size of lettering are restricted by regulation, but the lights are placed so as to make the best use of the permitted illumination, and staff have been instructed to announce stops clearly. The Board are considering altering the position of the openings in the protective netting on the windows and enlarging them.
§ Sir P. HurdWould it not be a good thing to supply women porters with megaphones so that they could be heard?
§ Colonel LlewellinI do not think we ought to make aspersions on these women, who are doing extremely good work and are helping the railways very much in the present situation.
§ Mr. GallacherWhy not supply some of the male porters with an interpreter?
§ Mr. F. AndersonWould it not be better if microphones were put in the trains to enable either the driver or the guard to announce the name of the station?