Rail Strike : Little Effect on Road Transport
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FROM inquiries pursued by The Commercial Motor this week, it appeared that consignors had not made extensive efforts to use road transport for goods which, but for the unofficial strike of footplate men, would have been carried by rail to or from the West Country.
No Western Region railway depot affected by the strike was accepting traffic; neither was traffic being accepted from elsewhere for delivery through these depots. Many tons of goods must have been held up by the beginning of this week, yet the Western Licensing Authority had been called upon to make only one licence dispeniation. This was for Messrs. S. Rogers, Si. Germans, 'near Plymouth, who wished to carry flowers to Birmingham.
Mr. R. S. Trew, south-western divisional traffic officer of British Road Services, said that pressure was not abnormally high. Nevertheless, some 30 long-distance permits had been issued to private operators within a few days,
Hauliers may, however, be called upon to make special efforts if the Cornish potatoes are lifted this weekend and the strike continues. It seems that sufficient road transport capacity is available for a substantial proportion of extra traffic to be accommodated, at least for a time.
Numbers of short-notice bookings have been made at Victoria Coach Station, London, for seats on vehicles running west. This may be to an extent due to the approach of Whitsun.