BR fails in bid to win freight from road
Page 5
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by CM reporter PRESSURE is growing on Transport Minister Fred Mulley to instigate a massive cutback in British Rail's operations. Backing for such a move is provided this week by an analysis of rail operations which shows that BR has failed to win more freight traffic from the roads.
The analysis, which appears in the current edition of CM's sister paper, Railway Gazette, reveals that, not only did the railways lose freight traffic during 1974, but rail freight in 1975 is expected to show a E50m loss, largely because of a 40 per cent wage increase awarded to railmen last year.
The magazine says that a row has blown up between BR and the DoE over future policy. Mr Mulley is said to be annoyed that the railways have failed to develop a coherent Dolicy to win freight traffic from road, despite cutbacks in the roadbuilding programme. The DoE is insistent that the railways should concentrate their efforts on freight and commuter services rather than improving prestige inter-city passenger services—good news for long-distance coach operators.
BR argues that it cannot be expected to make a more successful bid for a bigger share of the freight market without a definition by the Government of what role rail should play in the overall transport system. Major investment is needed to improve its services, including for example the replacement of as many as 200,000 outdated freight wagons.
Clearly, against a background of more and more cuts in the roads programme, many have expected rail freight traffic to increase. That it has not done so is indication of the efficiency of the road haulage industry.