B.R.S. Use Rail for Trunk Journeys
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rO-ORD1NATION of road and rail facilities to save fuel during the emergency is being worked out on a
nation-wide scale by British Road Services and the railways.. The possibilities of the scheme are being examined by the railways at ,regional level.
At Coventry. where the scheme went into operation last week, the local branch manager of B.R.S., Mr. A. C. Potter, said they had a master plan to work to. It involved the transfer of a large surplus of long-distance freight to the railways. B.R.S. would carry goods to Coventry station and load them into rail trucks with the aid of a mobile crane.
When the train leaves Coventry, we shall send teleprinter messages to our depots who are expecting freight, advising them where to off-load their goods from rail trucks into their own vehicles. said Mr. Potter. " This way we hope still to be able to provide a good longdistance freight service."
In the north-west, two disused railway goods depots at Cheadle Heath, Cheshire. and Gol borne. Lanes, are being re-opened.
On Monday night a train hauling 200 tons left Cheadle Heath for Hendon. Only 14 B.R.S. lorries were used on the overnight trunk run from Manchester to London. Another train, carrying 280 tons, left Golborne for Johnstone, Scotland. B.R.S. drivers and mates loaded and unloaded the trains. Normal road charges are made to customers.
A British Transport Commission spokesman told The Commercial Motor that the scheme was a temporary measure to help to keep traffic moving during the emergency.
B.M.C. WORKERS' THREE-DAY WEEK
A BOUT 2,000 workers engaged on I-1 commercial-vehicle production at the Longbridge factory of the British Motor Corporation, have started a three-day week because fuel rationing has affected home-mlirket sales.
In addition to 1,000 men of the Ford Motor Co.. Ltd., receiving notice this week, another 2,000 may be dismissed as the result of a decision to end the three-day working week at Briggs Motor Bodies, Ltd.