HC Deb 17 June 1925 vol 185 cc494-5
42. Colonel WOODCOCK

asked the Secretary of State for Air the losses on the railway between Cranwell and Sleaford for the years ending 31st March, 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1925; and what are the passenger fares per mile charged?

The SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Samuel Hoare)

As the reply involves statements of figures, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Colonel WOODCOCK

May I ask the Minister what the passenger fares are now, and why they do not bear some relation to the cost of working the line?

Sir S. HOARE

My hon. and gallant Friend, when he sees the answer, will find that I am giving him information on that point.

Following is the reply:

As regards the first part of the question the difference between expenditure and receipts (including in the latter a credit for the conveyance of Government traffic) was approximately as follows:

For year ending 31st March: £
1922 5,800
1923 4,000
1924 3,570
1925 (estimated) 4,600
Receipts cannot be expected to balance expenditure on a line of this nature, but any alternative means of transporting the large volume of Government stores at present carried by this railway—approximately 15,000 tons last year—would involve considerably greater expenditure.

As regards the second part of the question, the passenger fares are:

s. d.
First class return 1 0
Second class return 0 9
Third class return 0 6

Full return fare is charged for single journeys. Monthly tickets are issued to Royal Air Force personnel residing out of the station and to civilians in Air Ministry employ at the following rates:

s. d.
First class 18 8
Second class 14 0
Third class 9 4
Monthly tickets are also issued at the special reduced charge of 3s. 6d. a month to airmen on the married establishment for whom quarters are not provided.