RAILWAYS AND ROADS

Evening Star, Issue 20376, 7 January 1930, Page 10

RAILWAYS AND ROADS

: BRITISH BEVEUPMEKTS '■' “In round figures it may be said that the - railway companies have purchased an interest in omnibus companies with a com- ■ bined capital of nearly ten trillion pounds, .. but this interest is not a dominating interest,” writes Sir Ralph Wedgwood, chair- ' "man of the Railway Managers’ Conference, in ‘Modern Transport.’ , “Fears have been expressed that the -action taken by the railways may foreshadow the adoption of an unprogressive ’ ' and monopolistic policy which would re- • strict road services. This is the very opposite -pf the objects which the railway companies have in view. Their aim is rather to develop road transport as an ■ integral part of their transport organisa- ; tion. ’ “The railways may fairly claim that in the twelve months since the passing of their 1 Act they have: laid, the foundation for the co-ordinatioVi of road and rail traffic. In August, 19284 they owned amongst them no '■ more than 348 motor vehicles for the con- ■; veyamoe of passengers. They are now . directly interested in a ■ fleet approaching -. 8,000 vehicles. In the face of these figures 1 it can hardly ho maintained that the railway companies have neglected their opportunities. '

"They, are now in a position to offer " bettor services to the public by their .investments in road traction they have renewed the interest of their shareholders in traffic which has hitherto been regarded ‘lost’ to the roads, and may look for substantial profits from that source; and they have accomplislied this evolution without a wasteful transport war which would have been carried on at the expense of the shareholders and the public,”