DRIVING CARS ON THE RAILS • Mr Corke wants to
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introduce unpopular legislation to force car owners off the road. Who has he decided is the type of motorist who is going to have to give up their car? (CM 23-29 August).
In practice, a great deal of transport land lies derelict as British Rail has sold off nearly 9,000 miles of valuable routes.
This was done in short lengths so their continuity has been lost.
This includes much of the Great Central main line which should have been converted into a new motorway to relieve the pressure on the MI.
The Mll could be extended north from Cambridge to the Humber Bridge using many miles of derelict or little used railways.
As it is, Mr Corke may be surprised to learn that the railway south of Boston to the A17 is in the process of being converted into a road.
Instead of imposing tolls on motorways for car users, which would only result in them using vans to avoid the toll, it would be best if roads could be privately owned and operated, and the fuel taxes paid by the road vehicle users should be paid to the owners of the roads. How much fuel tax does British Rail pay on its diesel?
It should be remembered that the railways were built by private enterprise and free enterprise could quite easily convert them into roads. This would be by far the best way of privatising British Rail. Al Watkinson, Harrogate, North Yorks.
GETTING OUR SUMS WRONG / Having been in road transport all my life I have always bought Commercial Motor and that goes back to the time the price was 4d — four old pence.
Having read the Barry Jackson profile by Jack Semple, I think I could have made a
better job of it than your people seem to be doing (CM 2-8 August).
Allowing for the fact that some of my manuals of reference are getting a bit outof-date, 1.6 million miles in 11 years comes out at: 1,600,000 ÷ 11 = 145,454; 50 weeks (two weeks holiday) 145,454 ÷ 50 = 2,909. Maximum driving time 48pw 2,909 ÷ 48 = 60.6.
Please tell me how he did it. B Pratt, Cricklade, Swindon.
Well spotted, it should have been 1.6 million kilometres — Ed.
KNIGHTS OF THE ROAD
• I just thought I'd write and say well done" to your editor on the "Comment" story about drivers lending a hand to broken down motorists following that dreadful motorway rape case.
As a longtime reader of CM and a driver for more years than I'd care to admit, I really
regret the way things have changed. Not just the attacks, they've probably always happened, but the way that drivers don't help each other the way they used to.
1 remember in the days before we had all these different breakdown schemes and motorways with phones (let alone cab phones!) when a breakdown could be a real disaster. But there always seemed to be a fellow driver ready to take a message or lend a hand.
Maybe these dreadful attacks will encourage truck drivers to become Knights of the Road again.
P Caldecott Keighley, Yorkshire.