Now is the time to shine
Page 4
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DAVID HOWELL has been studying the contents of the well-leaked report of Sir David Serpell's committee on the future of British Rail. Which of the five options he finally takes up is unlikely to be made public before the general election. If he follows his Armitage Report policy, it will be the soft option.
However, in the immediate post-election period the Minister may find courage and go for a heavy cutback in rail services. In this case, almost half of the railway network would disappear.
Whichever option he chooses, there will be an increased demand for road freight and passenger services. Now is the time for road transport's trade associations to be laying plans to meet that demand.
A joint and immediate survey of rail usage in the areas likely to be affected is essential. Close study of the Serpell report will be revealing.
The industry could help the Minister greatly if it presented him with plans to overcome the social and industrial problems which rail closures will present.
The possibility that the present Government may be replaced by an administration which would ignore the Serpell report should not delay the presentation of a road transport alternative. This is yet another opportunity for the road sector to demonstrate its concern for, and its ability to overcome, this serious economic. problem.