65. Mr. McKieasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that, since the alteration in the scheduled hour of departure from Dumfries of the 9.30 p.m. train ex St. Pancras to Glasgow, St. Enoch, passengers travelling on business from Castle-Douglas, Kirkcudbright and Dal-beattie are now unable to reach Glasgow until after 11 o'clock, whereas they could formerly do so at 9.30; and if he will take steps to restore those facilities.
§ Mr. BarnesThe change in this service is due to the acceleration of the 9.30 p.m. train from Euston to Glasgow. The traffic to Glasgow from the three places mentioned is, I am informed, so small that I should not feel justified in pressing the company to rearrange the service.
Mr. McKieIs the Minister aware that since the alteration in the time schedule of this train, which is the 9.30 to St. Pancras, not Euston, it has never once been less than an hour late? Will he consider reverting to the previous time, which would please people travelling to Glasgow and intermediately?
§ Mr. BarnesYes, Sir.
66. Mr. McKieasked the Minister of Transport whether he will now consider restoring the through train service by day from Stranraer to London, St. Pancras.
§ Mr. BarnesThe provisions of through carriages from Stranraer to London, St. Pancras, was a wartime measure which was discontinued on 6th May last, when traffic ceased to justify it. I am advised that there is still insufficient traffic to justify a through service.
Mr. McKieIs the Minister aware that his information regarding this being a wartime provision is totally wrong and that the train was put on in January and taken off about May? In view of the fact that Stranraer played a very vital part in our successful war effort, will he consider restoring this facility?
§ Mr. BarnesCircumstances change, and in view of the pressure on locomotives for goods traffic, we cannot keep on additional services.
75. Mr. E. P. Smithasked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange with the S.R. Company to schedule the 8.23 a.m. train from Ashford, Kent, to Cannon Street to stop at London Bridge as was formerly the case, in view of the delay now caused to regular passengers whose business takes them to the South-Eastern districts of London.
§ Mr. BarnesI am informed that owing to the increase of services during the morning peak period the tracks through London Bridge Station are so fully occupied that it would not be practicable to stop the 8.24 a.m. from Ashford without cancelling at least one other train.
Mr. SmithDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that there is a delay of about three man hours per week to anybody travelling regularly and wishing to get to the South-Eastern districts of London by this train, and will he also realise that I am one of the persons concerned?