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• Because of the rapid build-up ii Freightliner operations at Dudley, wher

6th February 1970
Page 34
Page 34, 6th February 1970 — • Because of the rapid build-up ii Freightliner operations at Dudley, wher
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

container movements rose from 800 in 196' to 11,600 in 1968 and 27,900 in 1969, ; second :terminal at Landor Street Birmingham, one mile east of the cirs,

centre, was opened last November. At E Press visit on Monday, Mr. R. W. Hall

north-western manager of Freightliners Ltd. who is responsible for operations in flu West Midlands and North West England said it was possible that a further termina would be needed in the Birmingham area possibly by 1971.

Mr. Hall said there would be 80 vehicles operated by Freightliners Ltd. in the Birmingham area by the end of this year. The Landor Street terminal had opened with one Arroll wide-span crane before Christmas and with a second crane now working, the throughput at Birmingham should be considerably greater than that at Dudley. The maximum capacity at Dudley was around 240 containers (in total) forwarded and received, as against a total of 540 movements at Landor Street.

The opening of the new terminal had relieved great pressure at Dudley, said Mr. Hall, and both terminals could now accept the expanding container traffic on offer; indeed, he hoped the Birmingham terminal would handle up to nine train loads a day.

Mr. G. 0. Gill, terminal manager at Landor Street, said his staff totalled 78, and 24-hour operations were normal most days, the terminal working from 5.45 a.m. on Monday to around 2 p.m. on Saturday. There were 30 vehicles and 35 drivers—extra drivers working nights. At the present time 286 privately owned containers were stored at the terminal. Some, by their markings, were destined for an Anglo-Japanese service.

The most striking feature of the Birmingham terminal, writes John Darker, is• the craneage; the two Arroll electric cranes each span two road lanes, six rail tracks and three rows of container storage, with a length run of 1,000ft. Containers can be completely rotated, facilitating loading operations.

Services operated from Birmingham run to ' Felixstowe, Harwich, Tilbury, Southampton, Dublin and Belfast, plus a new venture, a Birmingham—London service. Dudley continues to operate the Glasgow, Newcastle and Stockton services, and a new service to Swansea is planned.

Questioned about the possibility of a rate increase, Mr. Hall said no "across the board" increase was contemplated but he would not rule out some selective increases.


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