5. Sir HENRY DALZIELasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the crowded state of long-distance trains, he can see his way to provide more accommodation for passengers than is at present available?
§ Mr. WARDLEThe question of the accommodation provided on passenger trains, especially on long-distance journeys, is receiving careful consideration. I realise that owing to the restrictions which have been inevitable during the War, the public have had to put up with a great deal of inconvenience. The difficulty in the present instance is one of coal supplies, and I can assure the hon. Baronet that as soon as the coal position improves we shall take steps to improve the passenger train accommodation. I hope that it may be possible in some of the more urgent cases of congestion on the long-distance trains to make some improvement before very long.
Sir H. DALZIELDoes my hon. Friend seriously suggest that the question of coal supply makes all the difference between an extra carriage or two on long-distance journeys, especially as there are eight or ten people standing on the night journey to Scotland; and will he give a definite answer if he will do it?
§ Mr. WARDLEMost of the long-distance trains have reached the limit that is possible.
§ Mr. GULLANDDoes the hon. Gentleman know they have reached the limit for discomfort to travellers, and will he pay personal attention to night trains to Scotland—because if he has ever done it, he will know the inconvenience of travelling to Scotland?
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs the hon. Member not aware that it is found possible to put extra carriages on in Scotland and not at the London termini?
§ Mr. WARDLEThat may be so, but I have made the journey to Scotland quite a number of times—
§ Mr. GULLANDOn a sleeper?
§ Mr. WARDLEOn a sleeper, and also not on a sleeper, and I know trains which travel from the London termini are absolutely up to the limit of the power of the engines and the length of the platforms.
Mr. THOMASWill my hon. Friend make representations with a view to returning to the original duplicate of the Scottish trains, and get over it in that way?
§ Mr. WARDLEThat is exactly where we come up against the problem of coal. I can assure the House we are anxious not only for the sake of civilians, but especially for the soldiers, who have often to travel in the corridor trains, and in the corridors. We shall give them all the accommodation it is possible to provide.
§ Mr. E. WASONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that two Highlanders had to sleep on the light rack all night, and I myself had to stand for the best part of three hours?
§ Mr. WARDLEI was not aware that the hon. Member had to sleep on the light rack. I have seen men sleeping on the floor. I know the difficulty, and we are doing our best to meet a difficult situation.
§ 10. Colonel Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of 3170 the inconvenience to the public and the injury to health caused by the overcrowding of trains in the London area, he will take steps to increase transit facilities both by omnibus and by the underground railways?
§ Mr. WARDLENeither the omnibuses nor the tube railways in the London area are under Government control, but I am confident that the companies concerned are aware of the desirability of improving their transit facilities so far as may be possible in existing circumstances. I am, however, bringing to their notice the point raised by the Noble Lord.