§ Sir P. Hannonasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the inadequacy of the services on the London Midland and Scottish Railway between Birmingham and Coventry and London; and, in view of the importance of fast train communication between these cities and London during the progress of the war, whether he will arrange for at least one or two fast trains each weekday?
§ Captain WallaceThere are 11 principal trains each way between London and Birmingham and six between London and Coventry on weekdays. It is true that these trains are slower than in -peacetime, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that, in order to deal with the very heavy freight traffic of urgent national importance which owing to the lighting restrictions cannot be confined to nighttime, it is necessary in existing circumstances to restrict passenger services to trains of maximum capacity, running at moderate speed and making intermediate 1839W connections. Improvements in passenger train services will be made when conditions permit.