§ MR. MACKARNESSI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Great Western Railway station at Newbury was built fifty-nine years ago and has never been adapted to the altered conditions and increased traffic of the last few years, due to the construction of the Did cot, Newbury, and Southampton line and the Lambourn Valley line, and the diversion of main line trains to the West of England to the Newbury line; that there are only two lines of rails to convey the whole of the goods, ordinary, and express traffic through the station; that not less than sixty trains run into the station daily, in addition to goods and fast express trains, the pace of the latter being such as to sweep luggage off the narrow platform and endanger the lives of persons standing on it; that the Corporation of Newbury has twice passed formal resolutions urging the Great Western Railway Board to build a new station, but that nothing has been done to meet their wishes; and whether he will inquire into the above facts.
§ MR. KEARLEYThe Board of Trade are informed by the company that the directors have authorised the expenditure necessary for the reconstruction of this station on modern lines and the work will be undertaken as soon as the necessary land can be acquired. The company's letter also deals at length with other 1511 points referred to in my hon. friend's Question, and I am sending him a copy.