§ 49. Mr. William Edwardsasked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made on the special costs benefit study which she announced for the Machynlleth-Pwllheli railway line.
§ Mr. John Morris:Among those consulted have been local authorities and other users and the three railway unions. Possible modifications to the service and economies in its operation have been examined with the Railways Board and an assessment of alternative means of transport has been made. Two train surveys— 573W one during the holiday period and one during the autumn—were carried out by an independent firm of consultants in collaboration with the Social Survey Department. The information derived from these enquiries is now being processed by the Ministry's Economic Unit and Statistics Directorate.