§ 17. Mr. James Hallasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the excessive overcrowding of trains running between Whitechapel and the City during the early afternoon; and what steps he is taking to obtain better service for those travelling in these trains?
§ Mr. BurginI am informed by the London Passenger Transport Board that there are occasions when passengers have to stand in these trains immediately after the lunch period, but that this condition of affairs applies only for three or four stations and is accentuated by the tendency of passengers to crowd into a few cars instead of spreading themselves over the whole length of the trains. For the rest of their journey these trains have ample accommodation, and in the opinion of the Board any inadequacy that does exist over a short part of the journey is not such as to justify an increase in the train service as a whole.
§ Mr. HallIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these trains are only of three carriages and that I have been at Liverpool Street Station and seen people left on the platform because it was not possible to squeeze into the trains anywhere? If the trains were a little longer than three carriages, it might be possible to obviate the difficulty, and will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to bring that about?
§ Mr. BurginI am sure the House understands that this is a matter for the London Passenger Transport Board, and not for me. Under Section 30 of the Act of 1933, any local authority can make an application to the Railway Rates Tribunal for new or improved services or facilities. That option is available to any local authority interested, and it is not a matter over which I have any control at all.
§ Mr. HallAm I to understand then that the right hon. Gentleman is unable to make any representations to the London Passenger Transport Board on the lines that I have indicated?
§ Mr. BurginNo, the hon. Member must not understand that. The information that I have furnished to the House is information given to me by the London Passenger Transport Board. I am pointing out to the House the nature of the remedy which is open to any local authority should these facilities be thought to be insufficient.