HC Deb 29 January 1964 vol 688 cc62-3W
85. Sir J. MacLeod

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction in the public interest to the British Railways Board not to dismantle freight facilities such as storage sheds and sidings on main lines which are proposed to be closed, pending the hearing of objectors before transport users' consultative committees.

Mr. Marples

No. The 1962 Transport Act gave the Board complete freedom to run its freight services as it chose. It is putting in hand schemes of freight concentration and rationalisation which are often quite independent of proposals for passenger service closures. It would not be in the public interest for me to interfere with this process, which is part of the modernisation of the railway system.

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