HC Deb 19 April 1967 vol 745 cc567-8
2. Sir J. Langford-Holt

asked the Minister of Transport whether, as a measure to increase safety on the railways as well as improve the standard of information available to passengers, she will give a general direction to British Railways that they should take steps to introduce radio telephony between trains and stations.

Mrs. Castle

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Westbury (Mr. Walters) on 8th March, 1967.—[Vol. 742, c. 293.]

Sir J. Langford-Holt

Does that mean that the right hon. Lady intends to take no action in this direction? It is quite extraordinary that, in 1967, there is no communication between trains and the stations from which they have come and to which they are going, unless they are within hailing distance.

Mrs. Castle

What it means is that this is within the responsibility of British Railways management. They have been conducting tests with the G.P.O. into the possibility of installing a public telephone service, but it would be very costly and it would be limited by the restricted range of reception from the few G.P.O. fixed radio stations.

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