BR denies freight
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subsidy charge
A SUGGESTION that British Rail is keeping its freight rates artificially low by subsidising them from its passenger revenue has been denied by ,the Railways Board. The allegation was made last week at the annual assembly of the engine drivers' union ASLEF by its president, Mr Bill Ronksley.
Mr Ronksley said that 90 per cent of BR's freight business came from only 75 customers. "Should BR even suggest to those customers that their charges should be increased to economic levels, most of them would transfer their freight on to the roads." The union president said that large monopoly companies were using one mode of freight transport against another to force down freight rates. Rail passengers were having to pay the cost of this policy.
A BR spokesman said that he could not understand the argument : the railways had to charge the economic rate for freight movements because they were not Government aided.