CONTAINERS: RAILWAYS MAY REAP BENEFIT
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A RESURGENCE of rail freight traffic to and from ports is foreseen by Mr. Clifford A. Dove, director-general of Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.
Writing in the January issue of our associated journal Freight Management, Mr. Dove says the 40ft. container poses problems for British roads but if the roads are not ready the railways will cash in.
Containerization might reduce congestion by cutting the number of vehicles required to carry equivalent amounts of cargo, but the high rate of discharge of modern container ships could induce peaks which "might presage congestion were it not for the likelihood that far more traffic will be lifted from the docks by rail than has been the case for many years".
In the same feature, Mr. F. J. N. Walker, director of Continental Ferry Trailers, makes a plea for new desig$ of container more adaptable to use for return loads. On ownership of containers, he feels that for deep-sea services, where containers may be away for weeks, the shipping company will have to supply them.
Mr. Walker's chief concern is the number of premises unsuitable for reception of containers and long trailers, where unloading often has to be done in the street.
Consultation clause —at TRTA's request
FOLLOWING representations by the Traders Road Transport Association, Manchester Corporation has agreed to include a clause stipulating consultation with interested bodies in its private Bill which, if approved by Parliament, will give it powers, inter alia, to close streets to form pedestrian precincts.
As recorded last week in CM, Guildford and Portsmouth Bills already include a similar provision, which stems from TRTA's efforts in connection with last year's Leeds Corporation Bill.