§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the freight capacity of British Railways in terms of effective ton-miles or other measurement; what is the current rate of utilisation; what is his estimate of the likely demand for rail freight in conditions of full employment; and whether he is satisfied that British Railways have sufficient rolling stock to handle the increase in demand which would result.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeBritish Railways operate passenger, freight and parcels services on the same track. Freight capacity is therefore interrelated with that of other aspects of railway operation. It will also depend on the nature, origins and destinations of the traffic on offer. The board's corporate plan 1981–85 estimates increases in total carryings from 150 million tonnes in 1981 to 166 million tonnes in 1985 and 175 million tonnes in 1990. It is for the board to satisfy itself that it has sufficient capacity to carry those traffics which it is profitable for it to carry.