HC Deb 29 July 1897 vol 51 c1476
MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the remarks of Alderman Bell, at Guildhall Police Court a few days since, when trying an action for assault on the Great Eastern Railway near Thorpe, to the effect that in his opinion the passengers in the train were not sufficiently protected; and having regard to the fact that one of the persons assaulted stated that she was unable to find the cord communicating with the guard, and that on her arrival at Liverpool Street she discovered that it was fixed outside the carriage, will arrangements be made for a notice to be fixed inside railway carriages indicating where the communicating cord is to be found?

MR. RITCHIE

I have not seen the remarks referred to. The Great Eastern Railway Company inform me, however, that notices are fixed inside their carriages; that there was one in the compartment in which the assault took place, and that, moreover, the carriage was one of those open from end to end. As the hon. Member is aware, the subject of communication in trains is under the consideration of a Committee.