During that year, a select committee had produced six reports on the railways, at the behest of the Board of Trade under its president, W. E. Gladstone.

The original bill introduced into Parliament by W. E. Gladstone had been far-reaching for its time - even proposing state ownership of the railways and telegraph.

The reaction of many railway companies was grudging acceptance of the letter, if not the spirit of the legislation, and they provided the minimum one train per day with facilities for third class passengers at an unpopular time such as early morning or late at night.

The reason for the reluctance was to avoid losing revenue if passengers who could afford to travel second class switched to third if facilities there became bearable.

The Midland Railway broke ranks by providing three compartments, with glazed windows and an oil lamp in the roof, causing resentment among competitors.