Track 29 is irresistible
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/ Major distribution groups have been attracted "like bees round a honey pot" to Track 29, British Rail's heavy parcels network which uses franchised hauliers for collection and delivery work.
Track 29 managing director John Lidderdale says that some of the giant road-based parcels companies are among hauliers applying to become franchisees. But with talk of privatisation in the air, he suspects their real motive may be as a potential buyer of the entire service which has doubled its business in the past eight weeks, he says.
"If their interest is purely predatory I am not going to talk to them along those lines," says Lidderdale. "They are welcome to go to my owners (the BR Board) and I think they'll get short shrift at the moment."
However, some applications have come from well-run regional transport companies which simply want to add a parcels service to their current operations to protect their core business.
Courier businesses have applied because they see their core market under threat and want to get into "a more grown-up business", says Lidderdale.
'This autumn Track 29 was advertising for additional franchisees, and Lidderdale says the response has been "far greater than we expected". Ten applicants have already received priority vists; other applicants have been sent a questionnaire and additional information about the company.
Interviews are expected to start in the new year and Lidderdale hopes to have made at least 25 appointments by the end of March, taking the network to around 55.