ECONOMIC OPERATION OF RAIL PASSENGER SERVICE
IN RURAL AREAS
1. Arising from the last paragraph of B.T.C.
Minute 9/370 of the 19th July and the recommendation in
Minute 9/336 of the 28th June a
meeting was held on 10th August under the chairmanship of
the Technical Adviser at which Officers of the General Staff, British Railways Central Staff
concerned, and representatives from the General Managers of the Eastern, Western, Southern, London
Midland and Scottish Regions attended.
2. At this meeting it was agreed that it would be advisable, in order to
gain experience of the operation of single light weight diesel cars of the rail-bus type on Branch
and similar lines, that experiments should be carried out in the Eastern, Western, London Midland
and Scottish Regions. It was suggested that a total of 20 of these vehicles would be required to
conduct trials in the Regions concerned.
3. Owing to the heavy commitments for carriage building in railway shops it
would be necessary for the vehicles to be built by outside contractors and three firms have expressed
an interest in their construction. One firm has submitted a tender for two prototype cars, each
would be a 4-wheeled vehicle capable of being driven from either end, approximately 38' in length,
with air powered folding doors under the driver's control and with a capacity of approximately 60
passengers. Power would be provided by one 120 h.p. diesel engine transmitted through a 4-speed gear
box, and the maximum speed would be in the order of 55 m.p.h.
4. It is desirable that the interior layout should be
standard throughout all Regions to facilitate speedy manufacture and interchange between the Regions
so that the cars can be tried out in various areas of British Railways, and in order to reach agreement
on the details of the interior design required an early meeting between all concerned has been
arranged.
5. The General Managers of the Regions affected are proceeding
with the preparation of schemes for the introduction of the vehicles in various areas but in order to
ensure delivery of the vehicle as early as possible, it is recommended that authority be given to order
twenty light weight diesel rail-buses at an approximate cost of £12,000 each, involving a total of
£240,000, in anticipation of the detailed proposals.
