Railways All Out To Keep New Traffic
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AN all-out effort is to be made by British Railways to keep traffic which is diverted to their services because of the fuel crisis. A directive to this effect was issued by the British Transport Commission last week. It is understood that highly favourable terms will be offered to consignors who, because of the fuel situation. are obliged to use the railway, " temporarily."
This places in its proper perspectoa. the announcement by Sir Brian Robertson, chairman of the B.T.C., at last week's meeting of the National Production Advisory Council on Industry, that the railways are in a position to take a substantial extra load because of reorganization.
Evidence of this "new look" in the railways' plans, although it is not concerned with the present crisis, is provided by the news that, on Monday. the railways began express services to London docks from the following points:—
Manchester. Nottingham, Warrington, St. Helens. Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Cmentry. Leicter. Northampton, Rugby, Stoke-on-frent. Longoort. Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield. Derby. Camhridge, Doncaster. Gainshorough. Grantham. Ipswich, Lincoln, Newark. Norwich. Peterborough. Retford, Stamford, Bristol, Rending. Swindon. Hereford. • Oxford. Tyseley (Birmingham). 'Lye (Wores), Cradley Heath and Cradles, (Staffs).
Delivery from these points to the Royal. India and Millwall Docks. London, is guaranteed next morning for full truck-loads. Smaller consignments are being made into full truck-loads at concentration depots at Birmingham. Leicester and Longport. These arrangements are to be extended.
Sir Norman Kipping. representing the Federation of British Industries. suggested a relaxation in the law governing C-licence holders which would enable them to pool their services to save fuel, at the meeting.
USE MEMBERS' RETURN CAPACITY"
T'0 save fuel, the Road Haulage
Association have asked their 17,000 members to make maximum use of fellow-members' vehicles from other parts of the country in need of return loads. It is hoped that the encouragement of interworking will make a substantial contribution towards fuel economy.
The Association expect to publish a directory of long-distance hauliers early in the New Year.
TOUR APPEAL REJECTED THE Minister of Transport has rejected an appeal by the Eastern National OmnibusCo., Ltd., against the grant by the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner of a road service licence authorizing Mr. F. R. Harris (Harris's Coaches) to operate a tour from Corringham to Clacton.