Diverting Coal Traffic from Rail to Road
Page 17
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AN instance of the diversion of goods from rail to road because of traffic pressure on the railways, as mentioned at the Yorkshire Transport Society's meeting reported in our last week's issue, is afforded in the coal trade in
Yorkshire. • • • The Transport Commissioner for the North-eastern Region, Major F. S. :Eastwood, has directed that, wherever possible in the Region, coal and coke for industrial and public-utility purposes within a 30-mile radius from the colliery or coke-plant loading point, shall be transported by road until further notice, except where it is now being conveyed by water.
This direction, which does not apply to coal and coke for domestic purposes, has been given by the Commissioner after co-nsultation with the Yorkshire Coal Transport Advisory eommittee. In a letter to its constituent organizations, informing them of the direction by the Commissioner, the York
shire Federation of Coal Merchants' Associations stated, last .week, that distributors should review all their traffic in the specified category and radius which is being carried • 'rail, and endeavour immediately to transfer all of it to road transport.
Stating that, with this. object, distributors should at once make contact with the supplying collieries rend coke -works, the latter added: "The collieries are aware of the position and will facilitate tHe transfers with all speed."
Information was also given as to the procedure to be followed in applying for fuel for vehicles employed on -the work. • The North of England Coal Traders' Association has sent out a similar notification to members.
Notwithstanding the' many lorries owned by coal distributors in York. shire, it is anticipated that the diversion will switch a considerable amount of traffic to professional hauliers in the county.