Keepaig cuefewete *flew
Page 25

If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Mr Goni, in his letter CM, February 25 issue) has some kind things to say about Freightliner, and some relevant points to make. May I say a word or two about the latter?
On crane breakdowns — well, yes, they do happen from time to time, and they do cause delays. They are, of course, very sophisticated pieces of machinery, and we work them very hard (up to 6,000 hours a year). But we are adding £ 1/2m to our maintenance budget this year to iron out some of the most persistent bugs and we are having an in-depth survey done on the best materials and methods for the job. It is very basic to our whole operation.
As for keeping customers in the picture, if we have fallen down in this instance, we apologise for it.
The basic principle is simple: when trains are delayed, it is the destination terminal's task to liaise with those who are affected, and to answer their questions. Even more important, though, is to make sure that the trains run on time: British Rail and ourselves are working very closely on this one, and improvements are showing through.
We thank Mr Goni for his praise, and take his reservations very much to heart: our simple objective is to be always excellent, not just sometimes.
J. M. MEARA,
Communications Manager, Freightliners Ltd