§ 38. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to the effect that it must at the commencement of every week display at all its railway stations a list setting out the average delay in the arrival and departure of all trains stopping at and starting from the station concerned, together with some indication as to whether that average can be expected to continue during the following week.
§ Mr. NugentNo, Sir. Punctuality of trains is a matter of day-to-day management for which the British Transport Commission is responsible.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-DavenportHave our trains in this country ever been later? Have they ever been dirtier or more dangerous? Is my hon. Friend aware that Sunday trains from the north of 406 England due to arrive at Euston at about 9.30 p.m. very often do not arrive until after midnight, when there are no taxis and no porters? Why should the unfortunate public be hoodwinked by bogus timetables which bear no relation to the truth?
§ Mr. NugentThe British Transport Commission does its best to adhere to the timetables. I must ask my hon. and gallant Friend to continue to exercise the natural restraint for which he is well famed.
§ Mr. John DugdaleIs the hon. Gentleman aware that trains in the United States of America owned by private enterprise are both dirtier and more unpunctual than trains in this country? Is he aware that they are frequently half an hour or more late? Is he aware that British Railways has a far better record than that?