August 29.
James Beeley says that I ''would do well to get my facts straight
before criticising rail subsidies''. It is true that road taxes in
1990-91 were #19 billion (12% of all tax revenue), and that less than
24% of that sum was spent on roads. Ninety-three per cent of passenger
kilometers are by road, 89% of freight.
It is true that BR received over #1000m from the taxpayer in 1991-92
and that but for the #30 subsidy from Strathclyde region fares in the
region would double.
The transport department White Paper, paragraph 7, states that 40% of
Japan's railways are private, with the remainder being privatised; that
the Swedish Government operates a private-sector tendering system; and
that privately owned American freight railways have been successful and
profitable for 10 years.
Many rural trains seem to carry a busload of passengers. If the
engineering problems associated with rail buses are insuperable then the
future for little-used ''social'' lines is bleak. Why not just run a
subsidised bus? The Central Transport Consultative Committee mentions
the single-car Class 153 as the workhorse but BR has serious problems
with the new Class 158.
I would remind Mr Beeley that a train with a busload of passengers
uses as much diesel and that electricity generation from fossil fuels
also causes pollution.
Thomas E. Whittle,
19 Kildoon Drive,
Maybole,
Ayrshire.
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