§ Mr. Palmerasked the Minister of War Transport if he is aware that train services on the London suburban Southern Railway lines are not running according to the advertised times; that this is causing great inconvenience to the travelling public; and whether he will, with the railway company concerned, take steps to improve the running of these trains. Mr. Barnes: The revised time-table brought into operation on the Southern Railway's suburban lines on 1st October included a number of alterations and additional services which have had the effect of reducing the terminal margin times and making the services more susceptible to delays. Moreover, permanent way restrictions are more numerous than before the war as a result of deferred maintenance and some of the more serious incidents of enemy action. The new timetable involves many changes in the working which has been in force for a number of years, and it is bound to be some time before the new arrangements function smoothly in all respects. The average late arrival of suburban trains on the Southern Railway is at present 2.9 minutes. The Company intend to improve on the present position, and the working is receiving and will continue to receive the closest attention of the responsible traffic officers.