§ Sir Richard Glynasked the Minister of Transport what information he has had from the Transport Holding Company as to their proposals for providing alternative services for the 122 miles of track, where the railway service is not paralleled by an 48W existing bus service; and if he will identify the 122 miles of track involved.
§ Mr. MarplesI am told by the British Railways Board that the 122 miles of routes where, according to the Board's Report, the passenger traffic displaced is less than 1,000 passengers a week and the railway service is not paralleled by an existing bus service, consists of 66½ miles of route in England, 15½ miles in Wales and 40¼ miles in Scotland. The details are as follows:
England Miles Kingsley-Oakamoor … … 3 Market Harborough-Seaton … … 14 Seaton-Kings Cliffe … … 71 Earby-Barnoldswick … … 7¾ Haltwhistle-Alston … … 13 Selby-Market Weighton … … 8 Arthington-Burley … … 3 Bream ore-Vcrwood … … 7½ Ellesmere-Oswestry … … 7½ 66½
Wales Miles Llanarthney-G olden Grove … … 4 Llandovery-Llanwrtyd Wells … … 11½ 15½
Scotland Miles Canonbie-Riddings Junction … … 1¼ Killin-Killin Junction … … 4¼ Boat of Garten-Nethy Bridge … … 4¾ Connel Ferry-Ballachulish … … 27¾ Throsk-Alloa … … 2¼ 40¼ Proposals for the provision of alternative bus services, whether by the Companies controlled by the Transport Holding Co. or by other bus operators, will fall to be considered when proposed railway passenger closures are the subject of the statutory processes of the Transport Act 1962 and the Road Traffic Act 1960. The Transport Holding Co. and other bus operators are already considering generally the provision of alternative bus services to replace passenger train services which may be withdrawn.