§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Transport how much of the 14,750 million ton-miles of rail traffic handled in 1966 was handled through railway depots, using normal railway goods services, from company loading-unloading bays to ports, and special unloading points on a single wagon basis using normal railway goods services, on company trains between factories, mines, or ports, and by freightliners, respectively; and if she will provide a similar breakdown for the 16,500 million ton-miles predicted for 1975, and the 20,000 million ton-miles predicted for 1980.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe analysis of rail freight traffic in 1966 requested by the hon. Member is set out below. Comparable figures are not available for 1975 or 1980:
206W
RAILWAY FREIGHT TRAFFIC, 1966 Estimated ton miles (millions) Type of movement Train loads Other than train loads 1. Between British Railways depots, whether carted by B.R. or public collection 60 910 2. Private sidings to/from docks 370 895 3. Private sidings to/from B.R. depots or between two private sidings 2,825 9,275 4. B.R. depots to/from docks or between two docks 15 410 5. Freightliners 65 — Totals 3,335 11,490
§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Ttransport how many depots capable of transferring bulk freight and containers from road to rail, now carried over 100 miles in vehicles of over 16-ton plated weight, or already carried by rail, she plans British Railways to operate in 1970, 1975, 1980, respectively, and if she will list these depots, giving the handling capacity of each, and the capital expenditure which will have to be incurred on each to implement her plans for reorganising the freight services.
§ Mr. John MorrisIt is for the Railways Board to plan and provide their freight facilities, subject to my right hon. Friend's approval where substantial capital expenditure is involved. It is not practicable to forecast how many depots there will be at any particular time in the future.
§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Transport how much of the 4,500 million ton-miles increase in rail traffic predicted in her White Paper for 1970, and the 6,000 million ton-miles increase in rail traffic predicted for 1980 will be carried on normal railway goods services between depots, company trains, and freightliners, respectively.
§ Mr. John MorrisAs Appendix 1 to the White Paper makes clear, the figure of 4,500 million ton-miles quoted in the White Paper was not a prediction of the increase in rail traffic for 1970, but an estimate of the total ton-mileage of the flows of road traffic which might potentially be attracted to freightliner service by the early 1970s assuming a network of about 50 terminals. Relatively small proportions of this traffic and of the increased potential by 1980 might in practice move in company trains and on "normal goods services" but no estimates of these proportions have been made.
§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Transport what assessment she has now made of spare rail capacity in terms of ton-mileage per annum as outlined on page 10 of the White Paper, The Transport of Freight, Command Paper No. 3470.
§ Mr. John MorrisNone in terms of ton mileage. There is ample spare rail capacity for the number of freightliner trains that will pass each day on the 207W routes to which significant quantities of traffic are expected to be attracted.
§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Transport if she will tabulate the freight forecasts of inter urban freight flows suitable for freightliner operation as outlined on page 10 of the White Paper, The Transport of Freight, Command Paper No. 3470.
§ Mr. John MorrisForecasts of interurban freight flows suitable for freightliner operation have been made by British Railways with the help of information provided by the Department about goods carried by road. We do not think it would be right to ask British Railways to release the figures in detail.
§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Transport how many railway depots can now handle goods, normally transported over 100 miles by lorries of over 16 tons plated weight; if she will list these depots, stating whether they are inside or outside the boundaries of the towns and cities which they serve, and whether they now have crane power to lift containers carried on these vehicles in each case; and how many of these are in development areas.
§ Mr. John MorrisIn addition to freightliner terminals, the Railways Board has some 1,200 depots which handle freight of various kinds. It is not practicable to distinguish those referred to in the hon. Member's Question.