Union Still Against Liner Plans
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THERE was another setback for Dr. Beeching last week when the 24-man executive committee of the National Union of Railwaymen decided, at a special meeting, to maintain its opposition to private road hauliers using the proposed liner-train terminals. The decision, in advance of another meeting with the British Railways Board, due to be held shortly, came as a surprise, writes our Industrial Correspondent But too much need not be read into this decision. Technically it came as the result of consideration of the problem by a sub-committee of the executive, and was based on information so far available to them. If new concessions (as foreshadowed in last week's The Commercial Motor) are offered when they meet the Board, the whole question will have to be considered again—and there might well be a different result.
MAIL BY RAIL • nESPITE the success of the Post Office's experiment, commenced in 1963, to deliver 20m. parcels a year by road throughout East Anglia from seven concentrated points, a 10-year contract was signed last Friday for nationwide delivery by rail. The contract secures for rail the main bulk of parcel mail traffic for a minimum of 10 years provided a satisfactory standard of rail service is maintained. In return for the security of this longterm arrangement British Railways have made a reduction in charges to be offset by higher prod activity, including the use of liner trains for parcels traffic. It is conceded that this more competitive approach by the railways was stimulated by the success of the East Anglia road venture.
Over the 10-year period the mail and parcels contracts could produce railway revenue of £250 m. of which around £150m. would be for parcels.