7 OCTOBER 1922, Page 3

The case for a reduction in railway fares is amply

confirmed by the Blue Book published on Wednesday. It shows that the third-class passengers carried last year were fewer by 185,000,000 than in 1920—a decline of about 20 per cent. The decline in first-class passengers was about 25 per cent. The Westminster Gazette of Thursday announced on good authority that the reduction in fares to be introduced on November lot will be about "25 per cent, of the pre-war fare." That is to say the cost of third-class travelling will be reduced from lid. a mile to lid. a mile. It is probable, we are told, that season tickets, ivorkmen's tickets and excursion and week-end tickets will be reduced in much the same proportion.