Convert railways into roads
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I WAS INTERESTED in Mr Reg Parker's views (CMJanuary 29) and hope that there will be intelligent debate on the various Serpell options. Like Mr Parker, I am reading Chris Park's book Heavy Truck and it is interesting to note that as far back as 1830 steam road vehicles could exceed 30mph.
In 1831 Nathaniel Ogle said: "Railroads, except in very peculiar situations, are behind the age and it is my decided opinion that those who embark capital in constructing them will be great losers." He must have had a vision of British Rail deficits to come.
It was certainly Thomas Telford's view that good roads should be built for mechanicallypropelled vehicles as he well understood the value of the then-established rule for the avoidance of undesirable monopoly: that the proprietors of routes, such as turnpike roads or canals, should never themselves operate vehicles or craft along them. With the coming of railway, this rule had to go.
For many years now the unfortunate taxpayer has been saddled with the burden of a sprawling deficit-ridden railway system while the heavilyovertaxed users of cars and commercial vehicles have to make do with a totally inadequate and antiquated road network.
We could have a really comprehensive network of modern roads by converting these railways into roads, starting with such duplicated main lines as the Midland and Great Central railways.
A. I. WATKINSON Harrogate North Yorkshire