§ 71. Mr. JAMESONasked the Minister of Transport, whether he is aware that on the 1st January, 1917, the through passenger train service between Edinburgh, Prince's Street Station, and London, Euston Station, was temporarily withdrawn, as a war measure, and that the withdrawal has resulted in inconvenience to the travelling public to and from Edinburgh who are compelled to travel in crowded trains between Edinburgh, Waverley Station, and 1842 London, King's Cross Station; and whether, now that the national emergency, which alone secured acquiescence in the withdrawal, has passed, he is prepared to take steps to restore fully the pre-War passenger train service between Edinburgh, Prince's Street Station, and London, Euston Station, or at least to undertake that within six months' time the service will be partly restored to the extent of one train by night and one train by day in both directions.
§ Mr. NEALThe question of resuming through train services between Edinburgh and London via the West Coast route has been carefully considered, and, in the general interest, it has been decided that the existing arrangements cannot be altered at the present time. The hon. Member will understand that the allocation of passenger traffic between London and Scotland is the natural one, namely, the traffic between Edinburgh and London passes via the East Coast, and that between Glasgow and London passes via the West Coast. This allocation of traffic has proved very beneficial and has resulted in considerable economies. The matter will continue to receive attention, but I cannot give any undertaking as to the period during which it may be necessary to maintain the present restriction.