§ Mr. Boothbyasked the Minister of Transport whether any decision has yet been reached regarding the lighting of trains?
§ Captain WallaceAs a result of the experiments to which I referred last week in answer to questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Abingdon and Leicester, East, it has been agreed that in corridor stock on long distance trains white lighting of an intensity sufficient to afford a reasonably good reading light may be installed in the compartments. This will be conditional upon the blinds of all compartment windows being kept drawn throughout the "black-out" period and the lights being extinguished, on receipt of an air-raid warning, by means of a master switch.
These arrangements will be brought into force as rapidly as the necessary equipment becomes available, but I must warn the public that their continuance will depend upon the co-operation of passengers in the strict observance of certain essential precautions, particulars of which will be displayed in the carriages.
The provision of reading light in suburban trains presents very much greater difficulties owing to the frequency of stops and the use of non-corridor rolling stock, and is under further investigation. Meanwhile, the lighting in these trains is being improved where necessary to a standard adequate for safety on short journeys.