Scots operator

10th November 1979, Page 120

10th November 1979

Page 120

Page 120, 10th November 1979 — Scots operator

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on right lines

At the opening of Hamilton Young 'S transport complex at Eastleigh, Sir Peter Parker, chairman of BR, stressed the vital need for road-rail co-operation.

SYMBOLICALLY, Sir Peter Parker, chairman of British Rail, and John Silberrnann, chairman of the Road Haulage Association, shared the platform when H. Young Transport Ltd opened its new rail-connected transport complex at Eastleigh, Ham pshire (see CM October 12). The company also has a major depot at Glengarnock, Scotland, directly linked into the BR Speedlink network. They were welcomed as guests of honour by enterprising Scots operator Hamilton Young, managing director.

Sir Peter talked of the "road: rail commonwealth of transport", and Mr Silbermann said he welcomed such co-operation.

Added Sir Peter: "It was just two years ago that I launched our new Speedlink service. On that occasion, I made reference to the fact that Speedlink was not to us just a competitor for " the road haulier. We aimed to be co-operators as well.

"ln.so many ways its a stale debate — road versus rail. I'll not tire talking about the Com monwealth of Transport. Outside the clear-cut areas of corn petition, we can work together

— Speedlink providing a complementary and economical ser

vice for the trunk hauls, and • road handling the complex terminal distributive processes.

We have now developed the service to the point where, by the end of this year, there will be 40 daily Speedlink trains conveying nearly 3m tonnes of traffic a year. This includes nearly 1/2rn tonnes a year of new business negotiated during. 1979. Furthermore, most of this is general merchandise traffic • traffic which we could not have secured in the face of severe competition without a quality and attractively priced product to offer. .

"In this growth, we have several good examples of the way in which co-operation with road hauliers and distributors, of which I spoke, has been fostered and developed — and an outstanding example is the development with H. Young Transport.

"John Young was quick to recognise the long-term benefits which Speedlink could offer his company, and we have been delighted to co-operate with him in this venture. Apart from the drive towards energy conservation, in these days of continuing cost pressures road hauliers, experiencing increasing fuel costs and restrictions in drivers' hours, can with advantage look to Speedlink for the long'distance trunk haul.

''As John Young has so impressively illustrated here, the haulier can operate from his own personally designed railconnected depot. And as if to prove the co-operation point beyond all question, he leased land which used to form part of the locomotive workshops at Eastleigh. "For this depot and the one at Glengarnock, his company received a Government grant of 50 per cent of the cost. of providing the rail facilities. Other hauliers too have taken advantage of the Section 8 facility and we hope there will be more to come."

He said that it is encouraging that the new Government has continued to give grants for the installation and improvement of rail facilities.

Speedlink continued to grow. Present plans provided, on a conservative estimate, for growth to 80 trains a day by the end of 1981 representing 61/2m tonnes of traffic a year. It provided for domestic traffics and also it gave a through service to and from the Continent via Dover and Harwich, Mr Hamilton Young explained that the depot is a purpose-built complex

embracing the requirements o. dual-purpose operation and i eluded warehousing accornm dation, fully equipped worksht for on-site repairs and main' nance, administration offic with computerised accountir and recording systems, and, course, the integral rail siding "The combination of rot and rail distribution by a priva operator is a new innovation the transport industry, but in tl present climate, with the co tinuing fuel shortages and a n€ awareness of environment protection, this combination iE flexibility that transport cor panies must soon come to ha. if they are to remain bo efficient and competitive," I said.

Young's road-haulage oper lion covers the whole of the and extends to the Continer The company has a fleet of E vehicles.