HC Deb 14 December 1932 vol 273 cc334-5
27. Mr. LOUIS SMITH

asked the Minister of Transport if he has any information as to what mileage of British railways is now laid with steel sleepers; what percentage this represents of the whole; and to what extent plans are now under consideration to increase the mileage of tracks with steel sleepers?

The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Mr. Pybus)

I understand that in connection with the extended experiments which the railway companies are making in regard to steel sleepers of various types, 247 track miles of the lines of the four group railways are now laid with steel sleepers, representing about 0.7 per cent. of their total length of line expressed as single track and excluding sidings. I understand that there are no general plans under consideration to increase the mileage of tracks laid with steel sleepers, but one of the companies will lay a further 47 miles in 1933.

Mr. SMITH

As the experimental stage has been passed, is this not really a good proposition

Mr. PYBUS

Yes, but we have no authority to order railway companies to adopt any particular type of sleeper.