Taunton loins road rush
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• Taunton Cider is the latest in a series of major rail freight users to announce a switch to road: it will transfer its final 600 tonnes of rail freight a week on to trucks next month.
Like other operators moving from rail to road, the Somersetbased manufacturer blames British Rail's prices, reduced service levels and inflexibility over the past 18 months (see News Analysis, page 17).
It has not yet decided whether to give the Taunton-to-Glasgow work to owner-drivers in Somerset.
It may increase its in-house driver workforce of 17 or increase the use of sub contracted hauliers who currently handle 1,000 tonnes a day.
Not every haulier will welcome the move: Peter D Stirling will lose a £400,000 yearly contract to unload, warehouse and distribute the cider from a rail terminal near Motherwell.