The not so great experiments
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URBAN TRANSPORT developments which have attracted the interest of the Department of Transport in recent weeks carry no great risk. One may be carried out in Hong Kong, the other was in operation throughout Britain in the Twenties.
The Hong Kong development is a proposal to harness DTp technology and experiment with an electronic accountancy system to charge road users for driving on privately financed roads. Lynda Chalker was discussing the plan this week, but it carries an investment penalty and could be cumbersome to operate. It could lead to all sorts of disputes, and will inevitably be accompanied by an army of bureaucrats and enforcement officers. There will be mountains of paper. It is still worth a trial — so long as it takes place in Britain.
David Howell's decision to allow another private coach operator to carry commuters to and from London is a no-risk business to the Government. Even before they were nationalised, the major company operators in Britain have handled this class of traffic in and out of cities.
It is simple and easy to operate. Local bus operators do not lose traffic, and the commuter is provided with a fast, comfortable and economic service which often is superior to that provided by British Rail.
This is a system which needs neither experiment nor capital investment — it's 50 years old.