Night freight plan for rail?
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• "We are now examining the potential clash between freight and passenger demands and the claims of a minimum track network situation. The daytime passenger railway and night freight railway is one possible solution, although it is not new in railway thinking." This insight into possible splitting of rail movement into distinct time sectors was given by the BRB's chief planning manager, Mr. R. A. Long, in a paper on railway planning which he presented to the Institute of Transport on Monday.
Hopes that the railways might one day be able to separate out the costs for different parts of their operations have apparently been realized, and Mr. Long explained how electronic data processing now made it possible to identify a particular network with types and volumes of traffic.
Talking of the Freight Plan—a "penetrat
ing appraisal" which the Board is now studying, Mr. Long said that in terms of 1967 revenue figures, after allowing for the changes proposed in current legislation some 90 per cent of rail freight would remain the sole responsibility of BR.
Four major challenges were to exploit the mass production potential of the Freightliner and container ships; the orderly reduction of coal carryings; the design of future express parcels services; and transformation of the wagonload business into a mOdern system.