HC Deb 02 May 1963 vol 676 cc143-4W
Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that the table on page 11 of the Beeching Report and the maps showing passenger and freight statistics are misleading, if he will issue a general direction, in the public interest, to the Railways Board to publish new statistics giving adequate weight to the destination as well as the station of origin, and to take account of the facts that a comparatively non-industrialised county like Dorset is a recipient rather than an originator of freight, and that many passengers book return tickets from a city like London.

Mr. Marples

No. The figures on page 11 of the British Railways Board Report illustrate how receipts from originating and forwarded traffic compare with the cost of the least used 50 per cent, of all stations.

More detailed information about freight traffics received as well as forwarded is given on pages 38–39 and 71–77 of the Report.

Proposals for passenger service and station closures depend mainly on the number of passengers joining and alighting. The Board will provide this information for any opposed closure after they give notice of their proposal under section 56 of the Transport Act, 1962.

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