In the Commons.
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OVER 1,800 containers a week are now being carried by British Railways and a great expansion of Freightliner terminals is planned, Mrs. Barbara Castle told MPs this week. But there had been a decline elsewhere in railways' receipts from freight traffic and she forecast that this was one reason why the railways' deficit was likely to be higher this year than last.
Jack-knifing talks The Ministry of Transport is willing to have talks with anyone interested about the jack-knifing of articulated vehicles. This promise was made by Mr. John Morris, the Parliamentary Secretary, when he was questioned about consultations with unions. Mr. Morris pointed out that the TGWU was represented on the working party on brakes which had discussed this topic and the United Road Transport Union had been made generally aware of what was being done.
Mr. Morris said that jack-knifing was being looked at urgently and was being tackled in a number of ways. But there was
no evidence as yet to justify regulations requiring any particular device to be fitted.
Longer artics?
The Minister of Transport will decide whether to raise the length limit of articulated goods vehicles and trailers when she has received comments on her proposals in this field, said Mr. Morris. He noted that Mrs. Castle was satisfied that an increase of permitted maximum length would benefit transport efficiency and road transport costs.
Drivers' hours
It was hoped to bring the European agreement of 1962 for regulating drivers' hours into operation in 1968 said Mrs. Castle this week. She added that the inland transport committee of the Economic Commission for Europe was studying the question of international standards for the construction and equipment of motor coaches, and a working group on this was meeting in a few days' time in London.