§ MR. WEIR) (Ross and CromartyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, 610 in view of the statement contained in the last paragraph of the Report of Lieutenant Colonel Von Donop, R. E., concerning the accident which occurred on the Great Eastern Railway near Hackney Downs Station on the 25th April last, will he state whether the Railway Company have yet provided all carriages on their passenger trains with the apparatus for intercommunication which has been approved by the combined Railway Companies; and, if not, will he state the cause of the delay.
(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) The Railway Company concerned have informed the Board of Trade that, under instructions given by the directors kn March last, all their existing passenger carriages are being fitted with the apparatus when they come into the workshop for repairs; it had previously been determined by the company that all new carriages should be so fitted. The hon. Member is not doubt aware that Railway Companies are under no stautory obligation to fit with communication apparatus trains that do not run twenty miles without stopping.