'Voluntary integration' in
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NW haulage plans By Ashley Taylor
NORTH WESTERN hauliers may soon be in a position to complete agreements with British Railways that would enable them to offer industry an "integrated traffic deal". Already British Railways has offered a contract for the provision of c. and d. vehicles. The RHA's North-Western (Eastern) area is liaising with BR concerning a possible joint scheme that would leave ultimate control of the traffic in the hands of the haulier but give traders a very economical transport service, backed by the availability of alternative road trunking in the event of rail stoppages.
I understand that there have been two separate approaches. One concerns solely the provision by road operators of c. and d. equipment for the Manchester-London Freightliners. The other deals with the question of hauliers placing traffic on Freightliner services for the main haul. Proposals are being studied by the RHA, particularly in relation to quantity discounts for traffic put on rail, and turn-round times.
The scheme is viewed by its supporters as a way of facing the current transport facts of life and ensuring for road transport a firm place in the set-up which is now developing. There appear to be no grounds for suggestions that have been made to the effect that the sponsors of the plan are merely inducing road operators to use the liner trains.
In order to bring in return loads, a link with London and Glasgow hauliers is proposed.
The initial negotiations have been handled by the RHA but any development involving trading is outside the scope of that body. Thus in Manchester, for example, the execution of any plan would probably be arranged by the group known as Road Hauliers (Manchester) Ltd.