§ Sir W. Robson-Brownasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is the present position in regard to the plans to speed up goods traffic by fitting vacuum or air brakes to goods wagons.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI am informed by the British Transport Commission that the proportion of freight train mileage run by trains fitted with vacuum brakes has now risen to 36 per cent. By the middle of 1960 virtually all merchandise wagons will have been fitted with vacuum brakes. Further progress in fitting mineral wagons depends on the provision of an improved form of coupling satisfactory to both industry and the railways, and experiments are now being carried out with various types.