Rail Statistics Leave Out Vital Facts
Page 35
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
QTATIST1CS of railway operation pub lished by the British Transport Commission were criticized last week by Mr. E. W. Russell, acting chief executive officer of the Road Haulage Association. He was speaking at the annual dinner of the Western Area of the Road Haulage Association at Bristol, and delivering a speech prepared by Mr. R. N. Ingram, national chairman, who was ill.
He said that figures relating to the railways occupied practically the whole of the Commission's annual report and accounts.
"But," he said, it is only when we seek to find out something that might possibly be useful that the information somehow never seems to be there. How much does it cost to carry goods and how much to carry passengers? Nobody will give an answer. It is easy to find out how much it costs to carry goods and passengers together, but apparently not how much it costs to carry them apart.
" But this is just the sort of thing the new Planning Board ought to be told. They should have a profit and loss account for each railway activity and for each stretch of line if need be. Then, and only then, will they be able to advise upon the best way to cut down and reshape the Commission, so as, in the words of the Prime Minister, to secure a more effective distribution of functions and a better use of all its assets.'
"We all know how much the railways lose—f 80m. this year, according to Mr. Macmillan, plus £15m. interest on loans. What the Planning Board should ask first of all is how the money is lost."