§ CAPTAIN POLHILL-TURNERasked the President of the Board of Trade, If he has received a Report from Captain Tyler, one of the Government Inspectors of Railways, relative to an accident 174 which occurred at the level crossing of the Midland and the London and North Western Railways at Bedford, March 12, 1875; and, if he is aware that the Grand Jury of the county of Bedford, in their presentment during the present assizes, publicly called the attention of the authorities to the dangerous nature of the present level crossing, and whether the Board of Trade propose to take any action in the matter?
§ SIR CHARLES ADDERLEYSir, Captain Tyler's Report has been laid before Parliament. In it Captain Tyler recommends that the signalling arrangements at the Bedford level crossing, which have been in operation ever since the opening of the railway, should be improved, and that the modern arrangements of interlocking the points and signals should be adopted. The Board of Trade communicated the recommendations of Captain Tyler to the London and North-Western and Midland Rail-way Companies. The Board of Trade are still in communication with the Companies on the subject; but they have no power to compel the Companies to adopt the recommendations contained in the Report. The presentment of the Grand Jury of the county of Bedford was not communicated to the Board of Trade. The hon. Member for Portsmouth (Mr. Bruce) has just informed me that he has heard from the Chairman of the North-Western Railway that they have received the presentment and are about to act upon it.