IRU to Prepare Memorandum on Road-rail Competition
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FROM A SPECIAL, CORRESPONDENT
THE major item discussed by Section II of IRU in Warsaw last week was the problem of railway competition and the measures to be taken by IRU to counter certain aspects of this competition which prejudices road hauliers in such countries as France and Germany. Detailed consideration was given to a memorandum prepared by Dr. Heimes (West Germany). This memorandum constituted a comprehensive review of the various unfavourable measures taken by railways, and privileges accorded to railway systems by various governments. In particular the memorandum made a strong attack on the subsidies granted to the railways by many governments, either as a direct grant or by means of Writing off deficits.
The Dutch delegation criticized the terms of the memorandum as being too extreme and unrealistic. In their view the railways were bound to exist as a vital link in each country's transport system for many years to come, and the granting of subsidies must therefore be accepted as part of the economic facts of life. For this reason the Dutch preferred a document which merely set out the basic principle of 1RU regarding equal treatment for both road and rail which avoided any direct and unnecessary attack on the railways. This view was strongly supported by Mr. J. A. Murly (Britain). The Hungarian representative suggested that the problem of the proper co-ordination between road and rail was international in its scope and justified the employment by IRU of economists and statisticians who could give detailed professional attention to it. It was eventually agreed that a short memorandum should be drawn up on the lines of the suggestions of the Dutch and British delegations for submission to the meeting of the Council of Direction in Geneva on May 12.
The meeting unanimously supported the request of the Road Haulage Association that the French, Dutch and Belgian associations should not issue TIR carnets in respect of vehicles registered in Great Britain. FNTR, the French haulage association, has already indicated to the RHA that it has ceased to issue carnets in respect of British vehicles, and it is understood that the Belgians have applied this rule with effect from the beginning of this month. At the moment the three Dutch associations are conferring amongst themselves as to the appropriate measures to be followed. Concern was expressed that hauliers operating under TIR to Spain were still obliged to pay extra charges, and it was agreed that TRU should exert every pressure to eliminate these additional expenses; also that the Spanish authorities should introduce as soon as possible the TIR system in its proper form. Amongst other items discussed were the admission of Rumania, the most favourable form of pallet (in which connection MU supports the 1,000-12,000 size as opposed to the 800-12,000), and the work of the special study group considering amendments to the CMR convention. It was noted that the Mont Blanc road tunnel would open on July 20 for cars and buses and on October 1 for goods vehicles. No figures were yet available regarding tolls to be charged, but it was understoodthey would be on the same basis as those levied on the St. Bernard route. Special reduced .rates will be granted to hauliers who use the Mont Blanc tunnel at night.