§ MR. WOODS (Essex, Walthamstow)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the hardship and inconvenience which a large number of men engaged in the printing trade have to suffer through the want of an early morning train from Farringdon Street Station similar to those now being run by other railways in that district; and will the Board of Trade exercise the powers conferred upon them by the 1883 Act so as to cause the railway company to provide the necessary train accommodation?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. W. H. LONG,for Mr. RITCHIE) Liverpool, West Derby,Yes, Sir; the attention of the Board of Trade has been directed to this case, and they have communicated with the company, referring to the provisions of the Cheap Trains Act, and intimating their intention to order an inquiry.
§ MARJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the serious overcrowding of trains on the London, Tilbury, and Southend line; and whether he will use his influence with this company to induce them to run additional services to prevent the great inconvenience to the public which is now normal?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (for Mr. RITCHIE)Yes, Sir; the Board of Trade have from 636 time to time communicated with the company on this subject, and they would be glad to use their influence with the company to induce them to run additional trains. In answer to an appeal of this description, however, the company have already replied that their
running powers into Fenchurch Street Station are limited, and that the Great Eastern Railway Company express their inability to grant additional accommodation.The managing director adds—It is, therefore, impossible for us to run more or longer trains than we are doing at the present time, and until the construction of the Whitechapel and Bow line is carried out, I do not see much prospect of an increased train service to London in connection with the Tilbury line.