HC Deb 22 July 1942 vol 382 cc15-7
16 Mr. Anderson

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (1) whether he is aware that passengers for Whitehaven arriving at Barrow from the South by the train due 7.59 p.m. have to alight and await on an open platform for 20 minutes until another train of empty coaches is brought in to continue the journey to Whitehaven; and will he arrange for the coaches from the South to make the complete journey to Whitehaven and thus avoid waste of fuel, discomfort to passengers, and unnecessary transfer of parcel, &c., traffic; Board for the 12 months ended 31st December, 1941?

Mr. Noel-Baker

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

Mr. Sorensen

Meanwhile, could the hon. Gentleman say whether the figures show any reduction?

Mr. Noel-Baker

My hon. Friend asks only for the figures for one year, so the figures I have do not give a comparison. The numbers are very small per million passengers carried.

Commander Locker-Lampson

Are tramcars being slowly eliminated?

Mr. Noel-Baker

The tramcars have an accident record no worse than that of other vehicles; indeed they are rather better than most.

Following are the figures:

(2) whether he will inquire into the reason for the train from the South, due into Barrow-in-Furness at 6.18 p.m., taking 17 minutes for 1½ mile from Roose, which usually takes six minutes; and if he will arrange for this train to be extended to Whitehaven and cut out the 6.15 p.m. non-corridor train at present in service between Barrow and Whitehaven, thus saving fuel for unnecessary shunting and prevent a two hours wait for passengers on an open platform in addition to extra handling of parcels, etc., traffic from the South to West Cumberland; and (3) whether he will arrange for the train due at Barrow-in-Furness at 8.45 p.m. from the South to be extended to Whitehaven, as this would then give members of His Majesty's Forces as well as business people from London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool districts the necessary facilities for reaching their destinations the same day?

Mr. Noel-Baker

It is unfortunately not practicable to run any through trains from the South to Whitehaven or back, for the reason that main-line rolling stock will not pass through a small tunnel on the line outside that town. Extensive repairs and enlargement works on the tunnel make it necessary to close the Whitehaven line to, all traffic between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. For these reasons, it is impossible to carry out most of my hon. Friend's proposals. The 6.15 p.m. train from Barrow to Whitehaven is an important workmen's train, the departure of which must not be delayed by waiting for the arrival of the train from the South. I should, however, be glad to discuss in detail with my hon. Friend the question of the timing of these trains, and the other difficulties to which he has drawn attention.

Mr. Anderson

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask whether the train, instead of going through the tunnel, could be turned back at this side of the tunnel at Whitehaven station, and would not that solve the main problem of congestion which has to be dealt with?

Mr. Noel-Baker

That would involve great practical difficulties, but if my hon. Friend will come to my Department, we will discuss the matter together, with expert advice, and see what we can do.

Major Petherick

Would it not be an appalling waste of time if every hon. Member brought up individual cases of railway trains which did not happen to suit his constituents?

Mr. Anderson

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there have been very strong complaints of the very serious delays which are taking place on that length of the line to important people engaged upon important Government work?

Mr. Noel-Baker

Yes, there are real difficulties on this line, and thanks to one of my hon. Friend's proposals we have retimed one train, which has made an improvement. I hope we may make others.