§ Mr. Goldieasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware of the lack of accommodation for passengers during the evening rush hours on the London suburban railway services; whether the withdrawn first-class carriages have been replaced by an equal number of third-class compartments; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the existing state of affairs?
§ Colonel LlewellinSince the commencement of the war there has been a decrease in London suburban traffic, but train services at peak hours have been substantially maintained. During these periods some trains are crowded, but no general deterioration in the conditions has taken place. When one-class services were introduced on the 6th October, the railways either substituted third-class carriages for firsts, or converted the firsts to thirds. Where there is evidence that difficulties exist on a particular route the train services are augmented if it is practicable1924W to do so without interfering with the movement of vital war traffic.