R plans to muscle in on trunia'ng
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SH RAIL, wants to carry a share of the trunk movement of trial and consumer goods which reach their final destinations ad, and has embarked on a ten-year plan which will be run in inction with road transport operators.
3R spokesman told CM that der to recoup some of the y and permanent freight s sustained through the reon in heavy industry (CM, 25), it is looking to the trunk of the distribution market wv business.
said that the development computerised total operaprocessing system (TOPS) in program, and the SpeedNagonload freight system it possible for BR to meet ;try's needs better than be he stated that the balance sts was swinging BR's way through the introduction this year of the eight-hour driving day, impending increases in vehicle excise duty for heavy lorries (as contained in the current Transport Bill), and growing environmental pressure to send goods by rail where possible.
He commented that BR is working in co-operation with companies like National Carriers, Corylink, and Railstore, which already have experience of modern railhead distribution from warehouses, and added that the projected Garo nor Leeds centre (CM, July 12, 1980) will probably have a rail link.
The spokesman added that, though the plans sound grandiose, they will not result in an enormous growth of traffic. Speedlink's 100,000 tonnes of traffic this year could rise to lm in 1985, and the 2.5m possible by 1990 is probably the upper limit.
In all, BR says about ten to 20 centres, possibly in the hands of as many private sector road distribution companies, could be spread throughout the country.
Centre for Physical Distribution Management manager Ray Horsley, who advised BR on distribution managers' needs from any service, told CM that the industry needs much more than railhead -to-railhead ser vice. And he said that the level of service is much more important than the tonnage carried.
But, while he was cautiously enthusiastic about the scheme, the Road Haulage Association, which has distribution companies in its 14,000 strong membership, has given the idea a very frosty reception.
A spokesman told CM it is sceptical of BR's ability to attract such traffic, and said that BR was unlikely to be able to compete with haulage on price. He added: "We find it extraordinary that British Rail is considering expanding at a time when the market for road transport is contracting."