§ 70. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the British Railways Board has issued timetables showing that no passenger trains will be run on the Stoke-on-Trent—Newcastleunder-Lyme—Silverdale line from 2nd March; and, in view of the fact that his consent to the closure of this line was based upon the provision of additional bus services which have not yet been planned and announced, if he will, under Section 56(11) of the Transport Act, 1962, direct the Railways Board to continue the train services for the time being.
§ Mr. MarplesThe Traffic Commissioners have, I understand, now authorised the operation of the additional bus services which I stipulated as a condition of my consent to the closure.
212WThe Railways Board and the bus operator can therefore now agree on a mutually convenient date for these services to start.
I have previously assured the hon. Member that the Board must continue the train services until the additional bus services are available.