MR. J. S. HARDYasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether he can give the House any further information on the subject of the earlier publication of changes in their time-tables by the various Railway Companies.
§ VISCOUNT SANDONSir, the Board of Trade have no power to oblige Railway Companies to publish the alterations in their time-tables at any particular period; but we thought it well, as was stated last year by my noble Friend who preceded me in the Office I now hold, to call the attention of the Railway Companies' Association to the matter. I am now glad to inform him that the Railway Companies' Association have stated to us that the several Companies will endeavour to publish any alterations they may make in their train arrangements at each station one week before the expiration of each month, and also to advertise them as early as possible. Some delay has occurred in effecting this improvement, owing to the difficulties which necessarily arise in settling the complicated arrangements of the timetables of the United Kingdom; but my hon. Friend will now have the satisfaction of knowing that the interest he has taken in the matter promises to secure a considerable convenience for the public.