HC Deb 29 July 1913 vol 56 cc304-5W
Mr. BOWERMAN

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received from the officials of the Great Eastern Railway Company any explanation of their failure to make arrangements for the supply of food to those excursionists who, as a result of the accident, at Colchester on the 12th of July, were detained on their return journey throughout the whole of the Saturday night, many of whom did not reach the London terminus until eleven o'clock on the Sunday morning; and, if so, will he state the nature of such explanation?

Mr. BUXTON

The following is the letter referred to in my oral answer to this question:—

"Great Eastern Railway,

General Manager's Office,

Liverpool Street Station,

London, E.C., 28th July, 1913.

Sir,—I am in receipt of your letter. R. 7776 of the 24th inst., in reference to the accident that took place at Colchester on the 12th instant. As regards the information given to intending passengers. I beg to enclose herewith copies of the statements made by the booking office clerks at the main line booking offices at Liverpool Street. In relation to the information given to people waiting the arrival of friends at the different points on the line, persons inquiring at various stations for expected friends were duly furnished by the station masters and staff with information from time to time during the afternoon and evening, and efforts were made to ascertain detailed particulars for the information of inquirers and intending passengers. With regard to passengers in the wrecked train, only one was detained at the hospital at Colchester and his wife was with him. With the exception of one or two persons who motored home, the whole of the remaining passengers joined a special train which was made up as quickly as possible after the accident, and left Colchester at 4.35 p.m., arriving at Liverpool Street at 5.55 p.m. This early arrival in London under the circumstances enabled the other passengers who were traveling by the Cromer express to reach Liverpool Street or their homes without serious delay, and thus enabled them to allay the anxiety of their friends. It was well known that the 1.0 p.m. ex Cromer was the only train which had met with any accident, and that any subsequent delay was only the result of the block which had occurred. It was hoped that the line would have been cleared in much less time than it actually took to remove the wreckage, otherwise more trains would have been diverted via Cambridge, although it was not possible to deal in this way with those trains that were already on their way. In relation to the concluding paragraph of your communication, the company consider it was quite beyond their ability to supply refreshment to passengers in trains stopped between stations extending over many miles of railway, and while they much regret the inconvenience occasioned to travellers, in these circumstances they do not know in what way they could have relieved them. My directors desire to again call attention to the fact that 32 per cent, of the trains dispatched between 3 p.m. and midnight on the day in question contained restaurant cars, and that the refreshment rooms at the principal stations were kept open through the night, as they notice that this information was not made known in tie House of Commons.

I am, Sir. Your obedient Servant,

(Signed) W. H. HYDE, General Manager.

The Assistant Secretary (Railway Department), Board of Trade."

"Great Eastern Railway,

Office of Superintendent of the Line,

Liverpool Street Station,

London. E.C., 17th July, 1913.

Mr.Whipps … First-class Window Liverpool Street Booking Office.
Mr. Nenan … Third-class Window

"Mr. Whipps,—I received an intimation of the blockage at Colchester shortly after 4.0 p.m.. and I was then instructed by Mr. White' to inform passengers that there was a block on the line at Colchester, and that there would probably be delay. I carried out these instructions until I left about 9.0 p.m.

Mr. Nenan,—I received instructions at the same time as Mr. Whipps, and both Mr. Prime and myself, who were at the third-class windows, carried out the arrangement. Between 8.0 and 9.0 p.m. Mr. White asked us if we were still advising passengers, and was assured that this was being done. We then made the remark that we were quite hoarse in talking to the passengers. Some took very little notice of the intimation, while others wanted to enter into discussion and asked several questions, which we were unable to answer. There is no doubt whatever about the passengers in the 5.30 p.m. or in any other train being properly advised."