§ 23 & 24. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Minister of Transport, (1) whether he is able to inform the House as to the various branch lines in England and Wales which have been worked at a loss for the first three months of the current year, giving the locality of such branch lines, together with their respective deficits;
(2) whether during the forthcoming winter months he can see his way to closing Sunday traffic, from the point of view of saving expenses, on the minor branch lines which are being worked at a deficit?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe railway companies do not maintain separate record of the results of working each section of their line, and the information for which the hon. Member asks is not available. In regard to his suggestion for a curtailment of facilities for travelling on Sundays, it is the general policy of the railways not to keep lines open on Sundays unnecessarily, but they must consider the convenience of the public.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINIs it not rather difficult to know which branch lines can be kept open if no statistics of their working are available? Further, if the Ministry is to co-ordinate road and railway transport, instead of running half-empty trains, would not one or two motors run between particular points be equally convenient and save considerable expense?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe amount of statistics which it is possible to keep is limited by the amount of money we feel we can spend on that work, and also by the carrying capacity of the railways.