§ Sir STUART COATSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there was a partial collapse of the roof of the Oxted tunnel on the London Brighton and South Coast Railway, on the afternoon of Tuesday, 29th April, a few minutes after a passenger train had passed through; whether, in consequence, the tunnel is closed and traffic diverted at great inconvenience and loss of time to passengers for London; whether a similar collapse occurred in 1917, and the tunnel was closed for nine weeks, causing great inconvenience to the regular travellers over the line; whether in recent years there have been several minor falls of portions of the tunnel which is constructed through chalk where there is much water from springs round about, 1381W and whether, owing to the general unsatisfactory condition of the tunnel and the feeling of nervousness on the part of the travelling public who use this line, he will cause a special examination of it to be made by the Board's engineers to ascertain what should be done in the interests of public safety?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe recent closing of the Oxted tunnel was due, I understand, to the falling of a quantity of brickwork from the inside of an airshaft and not to a collapse of part of the roof as was the case in 1917. I am informed that the necessary repairs have now been completed and the tunnel reopened for traffic. I have no knowledge of any minor falls of the roof of the tunnel of recent years, but during the War and up to the end of last year occurrences of this nature, unless occasioning risk of injury, were not reported. None has, however, been reported since the beginning of the year. I am considering whether any special examination of the tunnel such as the hon. Baronet suggests is desirable.
§ Mr. BENNETTasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give information as to the cause of an obstruction in a tunnel on the London and Brighton Railway near Oxted; whether a similar obstruction occurred in the same tunnel a few months ago; whether he can say what steps are being taken to avoid similar obstructions in the future, involving the possibility of loss of life; and when it is likely that the line will be again available for traffic?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI understand that a quantity of brickwork fell from the inside of an airshaft in this tunnel on the 20th April and that the tunnel was closed while the necessary repairs, which have now been completed, were being carried out. I am considering whether it is desirable that any special investigation of the circumstances is desirable. The closing of this tunnel in 1917, to which I presume the hon. Gentleman refers, was due to the collapse of a portion of the roof.