HC Deb 20 May 1980 vol 985 cc252-3 3.32 pm
Mr. Tony Speller (Devon, North)

I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to empower the Minister of Transport to waive sections 54 and 56 of the Transport Act 1962 upon specific application by British Railways naming the section of line to be re-opened on a trial basis. It is a great pleasure to see the interest in the extension of our railway system so clearly portrayed by the full Benches around me.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I think that the hon. Gentleman will have even greater interest if he will wait for a moment. I hope that hon. Members leaving the Chamber will do so quietly.

Mr. Speller

It seems that we have rather more points in the House than there are in the British Rail network. On this journey I merely ask for leave to bring in the most minor and general of regulations. It will allow British Rail to re-open closed lines on an experimental basis without having to go through the costly and time-consuming procedure that now applies, quite correctly, should British Rail seek to close a line.

I cannot believe that any hon. Member does not agree that in times of fuel shortage, high fuel costs and, in the rural area from which I come, quite inadequate roads, it is better to move passengers by train rather than by car.

I accept that the provisions of the 1962 Act are entirely sensible, but should the House be willing to allow British Rail the expediency of being able to reopen a line and, if the experiment is a failure, to close it again—perhaps British Rail would think that 18 months is a reasonable period—I believe that there would be great hope for many small lines that have been killed off post-Beeching. In my area I have in mind the small line from Barnstaple to Bideford. In the area of my hon. Friend the Member for Devon, West (Mr. Mills) I have in mind the line from Exeter to Okehampton.

I am aware that there are more national implications than I first thought when I considered the west country. It is worth a try to encourage passengers back on to the railways. It is worth a try to encourage British Rail to be rather more adventurous. I fully understand its problems. It dare not reopen lines when it cannot afford the cost of later closures.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Tony Speller, Mr. Robert Adley, Mr. Jack Aspinwall, Mr. Walter Johnson, Mr. Iain Mills, Mr. Peter Mills, Mr. Ron Lewis and Mr. Peter Snape.

Mr. Tony Speller accordingly presented a Bill to empower the Minister of Transport to waive sections 54 and 56 of the Transport Act 1962 upon specific application by British Railways naming the section of line to reopened on a trial basis: And the same was read the First time; and ordered to be read a Second time upon Friday 4 July and to be printed. [Bill 211.]