§ 73. Mr. Bateyasked the Minister of Transport whether, when fares are in creased, he will see that more trains will be provided for passengers who are now unable to obtain seats between Durham and King's Cross, or that a less price shall be charged for standing in the corridors, or sitting in the guard's van?
§ Captain WallaceThe passenger train services between Durham and London were reduced to enable a large number of special coal trains to be run from the collieries of Northumberland and Durham to London and the South. It is still necessary to maintain this special traffic, but by transfer of some coal trains to the London Midland and Scottish Railway it was found possible to increase the passenger services on 15th April. The suggestion made in the last part of the Question is not a practicable one.
§ Mr. BateyThe Minister has not answered my Question. When fares are increased will steps be taken to prevent passengers, especially soldiers, having to stand in the corridors?
§ Captain WallaceIf we were to do that, it would be necessary to restrict the sale of tickets to the number of seats on the train. I do not think that would be in the public interest.
§ 74. Mr. Bateyasked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the amount of money obtained by the London and North Eastern Railway Company by running a train of coal from Newcastle to London?
§ Captain WallaceAssuming an average load of 500 tons, the gross receipts from a train of coal from Northumberland to London would vary between £425 and £450.
§ 75. Mr. Bateyasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that passengers travelling on Friday, 12th April, from King's Cross to Durham, took seven hours and 16 minutes, although nearly all the journey was by the Flying Scotsman; and will he see that, when fares are increased, there shall be an improvement?
§ Captain WallaceThe booked time for the journey to which the hon. Member refers is six hours 39 minutes. On 12th April the train was 27 minutes late in reaching Durham, owing to abnormally heavy movements of coal traffic on the line. Delays due to national requirements are sometimes unavoidable in war-time conditions despite every effort to maintain scheduled times.
§ Mr. BateyWill the Minister say what is being done to improve this service? The other day I had to wait in Durham 65 minutes, and last Friday 55 minutes. Surely the Minister can do something to improve the position?
§ Captain WallaceI could not be more sorry for the hon. Member, but the fact is, so long as it is necessary to haul coal from Northumberland and Durham collieries to London and the South, I am afraid there will be inconvenience on the King's Cross lines. The Railway Executive have done what they can by transferring a number of these coal trains to the London Midland and Scottish Railway system at Normanton.
§ Mr. PalingMay I ask whether it is not possible to increase the speed of the trains, which at present is very slow indeed?
§ Captain WallaceThe difficulty is that if we increase the speed, wear and tear are increased, which means an extra demand on steel.