§ MR. THORNE (West Ham, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the District Electric Railway have shortened their trains running to East Ham by taking one carriage off many of the trains, and about sixty guards have been discharged during the last two months in consequence; and whether in view of the amount of overcrowding on these trains, he proposes to make any representation to the railway company in the matter.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE,) Carnarvon BoroughsI have communicated with the Metropolitan District Railway Company on this subject, and they inform mo that their electric trains were at first formed of seven cars, but that it was found in general working that six cars were better adapted to their station platforms and requirements. The company state further that, in conjunction with the London Tilbury and Southend Railway Company they are carefully watching the traffic to East Ham with a view to putting on more trains where necessary, that additional trains have already been put into running, and that the existing service will be increased by seven more trains from the 1st June next. It is added that, although the reduction from seven cars to six temporarily dispensed with a number of men, any increase in the train service necessarily means the employment of more men, and that while 120 train-men were employed during the time steam traction prevailed, there are at present 440 train-men in the company's service.
§ MR. THORNEsaid the shortening of the trains was the cause of overcrowding.