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ON AND OFF THE RAILS

26th November 1992
Page 3
Page 3, 26th November 1992 — ON AND OFF THE RAILS
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• The road to ruin, so the wise men tell us, is paved with good intentions. Certainly the path from road to rail has haa plenty of those heaped on top of it, not least by mealy-mouthed politicians. Yet despite all that apparent Government commitment to put more freight back on the rails it hasn't happened.

Now a leaked report shows that far from supporting rail, the Government intends to axe unprofitable rail freight services after privatisation. And why not? In the hard world of recession economics no-one should expect to last long if they can't make a profit.

Why should the railways be featherbedded by the tax payer when the road haulage industry isn't? Did anyone mention the words "level playing field"?

The collapse of Speedlink, Charterail and other rail-based freight systems has emphasised the fact that all this politically correct talk about encouraging more railfreight is so much cant and hypocrisy. The Government presumably reads its awn statistics, so it knows that 80% or goods go by road. Presumably it also knows why.

But before hauliers start crowing about how indispensable roadfreight is, a word of caution. Don't underestimate the anti-lorry backlash which is likely to be unleased when the general public sees through all that ministerial waffle about putting freight back on the rails.

The signs are already there and operators looking to pick up an ex-rail windfall should be ready to face the wrath of those environmental busybodies who will be only to eager to hold politicians to their word.

Most hauliers have learnt through bitter experiences not to believe politicians, particularly when they say they're "committed" to anything. The general public isn't so pragmatic. Gloating by the road haulage industry could force this Government to do the one thing it's been loathe to do: spend money on the railways.

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