§ MR. ATHERLEY-JONES (Durham, N. W.)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether under the proposed electrical equipment on the District Railway there will only be one motor-man to each train; whether, having regard to the safety of the public, he will take steps to secure that there be two motor-men to each train.
(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) I am informed by the railway company that every electrical train, whether of seven, four, or three cars, on the District Railway will, in addition to the motor-men, have one or more men who will be thoroughly instructed in the control of the motors. It may be added that the effect of the withdrawal of the motorman's hand from the lever would simply be to cut off the current and stop the train. As a further precaution, if a train passes a signal set at danger it will instantly be stopped through the automatic application of the brakes. I see no reason to take any action in the matter.