New Dodge Units to Service Tartan Arrow's Rail Link
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EIGHT new Dodge 500 Series tractive units rated for 24 tons g.t.w. will be used by Tartan Arrow Service Ltd., London, E.9, to service the company's special freight trains which are planned to be operating between London and Glasgow by about the end of next year. The Dodge units, which are KP900 two-axle models with 170 b.h.p. Chrysler-Cummins V-8 diesels, are now being delivered and will for the time being be used on the London-Glasgow parcels trunk.
Five-speed constant-mesh gearboxes are used on the new tractive units, and rear axles are two-speed 18802 Mk. I type with ratios of 6.50-8.87. Full air-pressure braking and a power-assisted handbrake are fitted.
Tartan Arrow is to have depots operating at BR's own sidings (quite separate from the liner trains) and the Dodge units will then be used to haul containerized traffic.
The Ministry is reviewing the legal requirements for other items affecting the safety of goods vehicles, such as their lights. Some other items, such as tyres, may need new regulations. In addition, existing regulations will be reviewed to see that obsolete requirements do not hamper technical progress.
Safer Drivers
As announced last June, the Government intends to reintroduce special licences and. tests for heavy goods drivers. Basic powers exist, but some amendments will be sought this Session, and detailed arrangements are being worked, out with the operators and unions.
The White Paper says that over Ifni. goods vehicles ,in Britain travelled 23,000m. miles in 1964. There are 900,000 light goods vehicles, and 650,000 heavier vehicles—and it is with the latter that the new laws are mainly concerned.
Judged in terms of accidents per million vehicle miles, the heavies have a better record than private cars, but they are involved in a fatal accident every 7m. miles, compared with 12m. for a car.
In the 12 months to September 30 last, Ministry men inspected 139,000 vehicles and imposed immediate prohibitions on 14,000 of them. Another 50,000 had defects which warranted further inspection after, repair. These figures, say the White Paper, were disturbing—and they showed no improvement over the previous year.
"The evidence available does not bear out the impression sometimes given that all lorries are dangerous and badly maintained —but it shows a clear need for improvement."
At his Press conference on Tuesday, Mr. Tom Fraser stressed that only a small percentage of lorries inspected had been found to be "immediately dangerous" and that persistent offenders were few.
The RHA and TRTA Welcomed the White Paper and also its fair assessment of the relatively few dangerous goods vehicles. The RHA emphasized the need to take account of operators' difficulties, especially in obtaining new vehicles and spares. The TRTA, which hopes to have its own maintenance inspection scheme in operation early in the New Year, was particularly pleased to see that enforcement was to be stepped up.
MPs Quiz Minister
THE news that the White Paper was I being published—" to assist Parliamentary and public discussion of the important issues raised by the Bill ", said Mr. Fraser—did not satisfy those MPs who had been waiting for the promised statement on transport co-ordination before Christmas, writes our Parliamentary Correspondent.
Labour transport expert Mr. George Strauss raised the matter in the Commons first by asking whether MPs would hear the Government's conclusions this week.
He was afraid he could not promise that, replied Mr. Herbert Bowden, Leader of the House, but when the demand was repeated by other Members he promised to consult the Transport Minister.