§ 62. Mr. SPOORasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the passenger train service between Dunston and Newcastle-on-Tyne, which was suspended during the War because of the great amount of munitions traffic, has not yet been restarted and that great inconvenience is being caused to large numbers of people in consequence; and if he will use his influence in order to have the service resumed immediately?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am aware that the passenger train service referred to has been suspended, and I have recently been in communication with the North-Eastern Railway Company on the subject. The company explain that the goods traffic at present requiring to be conveyed is even greater than at the date when the passenger service was discontinued. I much regret the inconvenience now being suffered by would-be passengers, but I could not press the company to take action which would increase the existing difficulties in dealing with goods traffic.