T.R.T.A. investigates Adequacy of Channel Link
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FOLLOWING the British Government's decision to participate in a Channel link with France, there is much speculation as to how traffic using the tunnel will be. controlled and what form of administration will be involved.
The international and highways committees of the 'Traders' Road Transport Assciciation are looking into the possible effects the Channel link will have on commercial road transport, primarily with regard to adequate dimensions to take the great majority of road vehicles, methods of controlling charge's, and the administratiye machinery to be set up for ensuring that adequate facilities are available for the carrying of commercial vehicles: .
Already there are many points which need to be clarified: will the channelling of still more .traffic into the south-eastern corner of England cause further traffic congestion in an already heavily populated and congested area? Is the domestic road development programme, already thought to be insufficient for everincreasing densities, to be accelerated on approach roads to the Channel link No that further congestion can be avoided? Will the constructional demands of the Channel link (expenditure', labour and equipment) prejudice work in other directions? How will efficient radial routes be introduced to lessen the tension?
In the event of bottlenecks, how are they to be handled without too much delay and what degree of priority will be accorded in relation to . the various forms (and possibly conflicting demands) of motor transport? What steps are to be taken to speed up Customs formalities between Britain and France, which could cause even more delay than hitherto as additional traffic is funnelled into both countries? More particularly, can we be sure, in view of recent French bans on British vehicles, that our traffic will be allowed to travel through France without hindrance?
No Use For High Loads
THE Channel Tunnel could he in operation by 1970, Mr. G. W.. Quick Smith, chief secretary Of the Transport Holding Company, fold the Channel Tunnel Association last Friday. He emphasized that he was speaking in his private capacity. The actual construction would take five years, he said, but about a year was needed for preliminary borings, which could Only. be undertaken in the summer. So, if an early decision were made to incur £1 m. expenditure these borings could be made this year.
Mr. Quick Smith, who (as a member of the now-defunct British Transport Commission) had much to do with the Tunnel project, told his audience it would be possible to offer a service of drive-on, drive-off trains at headways of five to 30 minutes, depending on demand. The trains would travel at 75 m.p.h. and the entire 44-mile trip (including loading and unloading) would take little more than an hour.
There would, however, he dimension problems. The tunnel flat-wagon trains would he able to accommodate "all ordinary goods vehicles and coaches ", but not vehicles of unusual size. It would be possible to move through the tunnel vehicles of a height up to 13 ft 9 in. "with suitable contours