Mr. Vaneasked the Minister of Transport what additional bus services were planned to serve places along the route of the Eden Valley railway line after its closure to passenger traffic between Penrith and Barnard Castle; and to what extent such additional bus services are still running.
§ Mr. MarplesWith the approval of the Traffic Commissioners the existing bus services were augmented when the railway line was closed. An extra journey was run between Darlington and Carlisle on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and an extra journey between Middlesbrough and Keswick on summer Saturdays only.
These services are still running during the summer. Last November the Traffic Commissioners approved the withdrawal of the extra buses between Darlington and Carlisle during the winter owing to insufficient demand.