§ 43. Sir R. THOMASasked the Minister of Transport in how many cases train services on unremunerative lines have been, or are about to be, suspended by the railway companies and road motor-services substituted; what is the aggregate mileage of the lines in question; and where are they situated?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)I am informed by the railway companies that there is one case—namely, Old Hill to Halesowen, about 1½ miles—in which a railway passenger service has been discontinued and an 1962 omnibus service substituted, and that there is another case—namely, Middlesbrough to Eston, about 3¾ miles—in which the railway passenger service will be discontinued shortly. The railway companies further inform me that they have under consideration the discontinuance of passenger services in a number of other cases where, owing to omnibus competition, the railway service has become unremunerative, but that before coming to a decision in these cases they desire to take into account the effect of any such discontinuance on the interests concerned and in particular to give every consideration to local feeling.