§ Mr. Padleyasked the Minister of Transport, in connection with his conditional consent to the withdrawal of passenger train services between Barry and Bridgend, what is his estimate of the net saving to the Railways Board, after allowing for loss of contributory revenue and parcels traffic; and what is his estimate of the economic and social costs to which the closure will give rise.
§ Mr. MarplesThe British Railways Board estimate that the net savings, after allowing for loss of contributory revenue, will be of the order of £36,000 per annum. This figure does not allow for any savings consequential upon the closure. Little or no loss in revenue from parcels traffic is expected. The Board are arranging for alternative methods for collection and delivery of parcels. The cost of the alternative bus services that are required is insignificant both in itself and in comparison with the 153W savings from closure. Other economic and social costs of this closure, if in fact they exist at all, are too minute to be measured.