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2.

REMARKS (contd.)

The Chief Regional Managers have now completed their review of the likely requirements for the immediate future and approval is sought for the construction of a total of 1,408 vehicles - 858 motor cars and 550 trailers - at an estimated cost of £17,570,000 in advance of the submission of detailed schemes.

It is proposed to place the bulk of the orders for engine and power equipment with British United Traction Ltd. on the basis of an output by them of 20 engines and transmissions per week commencing 9 months from the date of the order, equivalent to 10 motor cars per week. The output of motor cars for 1956 should, therefore, be 500 and the proposed programme of construction of multiple unit diesel cars has been prepared on this basis.

It is proposed that a small number of motor cars (up to a maximum of four) to be ordered from Metropolitan-Cammel Carriage & Wagon Co. Ltd. should be provided with a new type Rolls-Royce flat type engine in order to gain experience with a view to widening, ultimately, our sources of supply for diesel engines.

At present Derby C.&W. Works are building 57'0" vehicles in light alloy and they will be producing this design for schemes already authorised until the end of July 1955. A design is in course of preparation, with a view to reducing the cost, in which the body and underframe structure will be in steel and light alloy. It is anticipated that this design will be ready for the first 63'6" vehicle to be completed by the end of December, 1955.

Tenders have been invited from Contractors for the supply of multiple-unit diesel cars to their own design and the individual production capacity of each firm has been ascertained.

The proposed building programme is as follows:-

It is estimated that the 1,408 diesel vehicles will eventually displace approximately 400 locomotives and 2,100 non-corridor coaches, the gross replacement cost of which is approximately £16,000,000, representing, on a gross replacement basis, a betterment of £1,500,000.