§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with British Rail the extension of request stopping on rural lines as an alternative to the closure of smal rural stations.
§ Mr. FreemanI expect British Rail to have considered all realistic options before proposing closure of any station. I understand that any savings that might arise from making an unstaffed station a request stop are unlikely to be sufficient to influence materially its viability.