Channel Tunnel will be 'disaster' IRU tok
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• The rail-only Channel Tunnel will be an "unmitigated disaster" for road transport, leading British coach operator Ron Whittle told delegates at last week's International Road Transport Union (IRU) congress in Frankfurt.
Whittle, who is president of the passenger section of the IRU and becomes overall president at the end of this year, said: "We will have to compete with passenger trains and that is going to be a major problem, especially when we are competing against a mode where the investment is not strictly commercial.
"I could live with it if rail was strictly commercially operated, because then the difference in fares would be so marked that we could be competitive.
"The tunnel will certainly be an advantage for a great deal of coach operations. All our holiday tours will be helped by the reduced times and timetables will be less difficult," he said.
Whittle added, with spice: That is if everything goes well, but knowing the bureaucrats they will bugger something up."
September 29 revisions Whittle also complained that the September 29 revisions to drivers' hours rules were compiled with the goods vehicle industry more in mind than the bus and coach industry which must operate seven days a week.
Whittle bemoaned the lack of progress made by the IRU in trying to secure a freer movement of traffic across frontiers. "The only happening of note was the introduction of the Swiss tax which is a retrograde step rather than progress.
"However, I do believe there is a greater political awareness that this problem must be tackled and perhaps in the not-too-distant future we will see changes in the right direction," he said.
Credit card system He also called for a credit card system to cover tolls and taxes at frontiers, so that vehicles are not held up unnecessarily while money is collected.
"I am not opposed to the collection of taxes. That is something we will never get away from, but [think we must find a more efficient way of collecting them and do away with this business of stopping vehicles and delaying passengers."
IRU secretary-general Pieter Groenendijk told the congress that it is wrong to transfer traffic compulsorily from road to rail and inland waterways.
"The abolition of freedom of choice will reduce the flexibility and efficiency of road transport. The channelling of long distance road traffic is quite contrary to the essential interests of the industry as well as to foreign trade and employment."
Groenendijk also expressed disappointment at the lack of progress in harmonising lorry weights in the EEC. The July 1 agreement — which does not apply in the British Isles — excludes the key area of axle weight limits.
The technology exists
He said the technology to solve the problems already exists and said the matter should be resolved technically rather than being left to political debate.
"Although politicians and lawyers are very good at drawing up new regulations, it cannot but be observed that they are not always well acquainted with what they are regulating."
For the future, he called for greater progress being made towards liberalisation, rather than harmonisation of the conditions of competition. Otherwise, the lack of progress of the past 25 years will continue indefinitely.
• by Hugh Quigley