Still Hope for Liner Trains
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FROM OUR INDUSTRIAL CORRESPONDENT
THE National Board of Prices and Incomes may have the next word in the long-drawn-out dispute over the introduction • of the British Railways Board's 1100m. scheme for fast, freight-carrying liner trains. The Board may do so as part of its investigation of the claims by the three railway unions for higher pay, shorter hours and longer holidays.
Mr. George Brown, Minister for Economic Affairs, and the Minister of Transport, Mr. Tom Fraser, persuaded leaders of the three unions last week-end to let their claim go to the Board. They agreed reluctantly, but only on condition that the last offer by the Railways Board of two pay increases of 34 per cent and of the introduction of the 40-hour week was implemented forthwith.
Judging by its previous reports on road haulage, bread and flour prices and printing. the Prices and Incomes Board is likely to lay particular stress on means of raising efficiency and increasing productivity. And an obvious field where this needs to be applied is that of liner trains, where the NUR, despite proddings by almost everyone from the Prime Minister downwards, has steadfastly refused to allow access to the proposed terminals by private road hauliers. •
If now an outside body like the Board comes out in favour of the scheme—and in particular if it offers some financial inducement for union co-operation—the way would be open for a change of mind by the union without too much loss of face. It certainly represents the best chance of getting the trains running at last.
The Board hopes to have its report ready within eight weeks, which would give the railways just enough time, if all goes well, to inert their latest deadline of having the first liner-train services running between London and Glasgow by the end of this year.
Cheaper Freight Rates if-`HEAPER freight rates and a new turnover discount scheme have been introduced by Townsend Car Ferries for its Dover-Calais short sea route to the
Continent. .
The new rates for the company's " Free Enterprise" ships, with previous charges in brackets, are: motorized vehicles 22s (25s.) per linear ft. loaded and 17s. 9d. (200 unloaded; trailers 35s. 6d. (40s.) per linear ft. loaded and 31s. (35s.) unloaded.
The new discount scheme, which now applies to. both hauliers and shipping and forwarding agents. is as follows:
Turnover of £401-£500 per month-2 per cent discount; £501-£600--4 per cent; £601£700—fl per cent: £701-€800-8 per cent: E800 and above—I0 per cent A26