Vlotorail hit by OFT
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TREATMENT of express parcel-delivery service Overnight Bag 'prises by the Motorail section of British Rail (CM,November )112) has been described as "anti-competitive" by the Office of frading. However, OBE's managing director Edward Lacoste 5 this verdict as a mere "smack on the bottom" for BR, reports ;OBB.
E used Motorail to carry out usiness. It collected packand then put the van and its ants straight on to Motorail. irail stopped the company doing this, but did not stop yf the other parcels carriers sting in the same way.
le OFT report said BR wed "anti-competitive ses of conduct in the way it allocated Motorail facilities )mmercial users," although effects on competition were re insignificant."
.hough pleased that the OFT taken the trouble to look at ase, Mr Lacoste did not see .esults as a real victory for
himself. "I am amazed that the OFT took the trouble to look at the problems of a very small businessman like myself. On the other hand, I am not thrilled by the outcome, as it is just a smack on the bottom, but we are not doing anything about its outcome," he explained.
Mr Lacoste thought that the situation with Motorail would be no different. If he tried to get one of his parcel-delivery vehicles on a train he would still not be allowed, whereas other companies would be.
A spokesman for BR said that the report had been carefully looked over and all the corn ments and findings noted. "They have judged us to be in the wrong and there is not much more to be said than that."
"If a similar situation with a company occurred again, we would have to look at the situat i on very closely," the spokesman said.
BR's Motorail policy has now changed. "Although for a time other parcel carriers were allowed to use Motorail on an occasional basis at the normal fare, BRB's current policy is to allow parcel carriers to use Motorail only on payment of charges related to those made by the Red Star Parcels Service, which in effect means that Motorail is no longer a viable proposition for commercial users," says BR.
OBE is now carrying out business with Freightliner, another BR subsidiary.