HC Deb 01 July 1964 vol 697 cc230-1W
75. Mr. J. Silverman

asked the Minister of Transport if he will withdraw his consent to the proposals of the British Railways Board to discontinue railway passenger services between Birmingham and Dudley, pending the completion of the West Midlands Traffic Survey.

109 and 110. Mr. Wigg

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he will withdraw his consent to the closure of the Birmingham Snow Hill-Dudley railway line, pending the completion of the West Midlands Traffic Survey;

(2) Whether he will withdraw his consent to the closure of the Dudley-Old Hill and Walsall and Dudley railway lines.

Mr. Marples

No. I gave my consent to the closure of the passenger services between Swan Village and Dudley and on other two lines on 30th April. Before doing so I satisfied myself that the train services from Swan Village, Dudley Port and Old Hill, in conjunction with the bus services, provided adequate alternatives for travel to Birmingham. I therefore considered the sure justified irrespective of the results of the survey. I was also satisfied that, with certain additional bus services, the Walsall-Dudley passenger services could be closed.

But, to safeguard the future, I made it a condition to all three consents that the Board must notify me of any intention to dispose of the land at present occupied by the lines in question.