§ Mr. Howeasked the Minister of Transport if, when making a decision on proposals for withdrawal or reduction of rail passenger services, either before their publication by the Railways Board, or after receipt of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee's report, he will give an 284W assurance that he will take into account the statistics of freight traffic on the line relevant to the proposed closure.
§ Mr. Tom FraserStatistics of freight traffic are not directly relevant to rail passenger closure proposals. The estimate of savings to be achieved by a passenger closure may, however, be affected by the Railways Board's intentions about retention of the line for freight services, and to that extent I take these into account. Reductions in passenger services as distinct from closures, do not require my consent.
§ Mr. Howeasked the Minister of Transport what proposals have been made to him for the withdrawal or curtailment of passenger services or closure of stations to passenger traffic on the Wrexham, Chester, Northgate and New Brighton railway line; and whether he will make a statement on the future of such services and stations.
§ Mr. Tom FraserThe Railways Board has sent me details of a proposal to withdraw all rail passenger services on the lines between Wrexham, Chester North-gate and Bidston (via Shotton and Neston).
Under the procedure which I have instituted I am considering, in the light of the views of the Economic Planning Councils for Wales and the North West, whether or not the proposal is, wholly or in part, so obviously unacceptable on planning grounds that it should not be published, at least for the present.