Railways Surrender 272 Units in North-west
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BRITISH RAILWAYS have surrendered SO vehicles and 192 trailers in the North Western Traffic Area. This was revealed at Manchester on Monday, when Mr. F. Williamson, North Western Licensing Authority, held a public inquiry into applications by the railways for a A licences for 2,472 vehicles and 1,931 trailers, in place of the 2,552 vehicles and 2,123 trailers authorized under their expired -free and public A licences.
The traffic area covers 10 districts of the London Midland Region and two districts of the Western Region of British Railways. Altogether 161 vehicle bases are involved.
Mr. Williamson said that, although there were no objections, he wished to be satisfied, after examining the figures and inquiring into activities, that there was sufficient work to warrant licensing all these vehicles.
Mr. G. H. P. Beames, for the British Transport Commission, said they would produce figures giving all possible information, which they hoped would be a model for other applicants. It was impossible to segregate vehicle earnings, because they were bound up with charges for through traffic.
The published normal user was "all classes and descriptions of goods within 20 miles of base, mainly for collection and delivery of rail-borne traffic." Mr. Beames said they had been at pains to give a proper description and, although a 20-mile radius had been criticized, it was essential.
Fleet Decreased
Evidence produced showed the following decreafes in local fleets: Barrow, one vehicle, one trailer; Bolton, eight vehicles, 63 trailers; Chester, five vehicles, six trailers; Manchester, 51 vehicles, 70 trailers; Stoke, six vehicles, six trailers; Warrington, nine vehicles, 37 trailers; Central Wales, one vehicle, one trailer. At Liverpool there was an increase of two vehicles and a decrease of seven trailers.
Mr. W. G. Greenshields, of the London Midland Region, said in evidence that an increase at Huskinson Docks, Liverpool, of six vehicles and four trailers resulted from the centralization of traffic which formerly passed through Great Howard Street and Brunswick Stations.
The remarkable decrease at Manchester of 74 vehicles and 84 trailers on the goods side was caused in part by the closure of Deansgate and Guide Bridge Stations, and the loss of the traffic of a large brewery.
Increases of 23 vehicles and 14 trailers on the passenger side were occasioned by temporary troubles at London Road Station, because of the electrification programme. Until the new central terminus at Mayfield was opened in about three years' time, there would be a big increase in cross-town traffic.
Granting the applications, Mr. Williamson said they were well presented and, apart from minor points, the answers to his questions had been satisfactory.