5. The estimated annual variable costs on the two
London Midland branches have been reduced from £33,000 for steam services
to £15,000 for the diesel rail buses.
Eastern Region
Movement Costs
Gross Passenger Earnings
Margin
Per Annum
Per Train Mile
Per Annum
Per Train Mile
£000
s.d.
£000
s.d.
£000
Displaced steam services
87.6
9.3
11.2
1.2
-76.4
Diesel Rail Bus services
25.5
2.10
13.4
1.6
-12.1
-62.1
+2.2
Details of reduction in variable costs and earnings not
available for the Scottish Region.
In spite of the reduction in movement costs there is
little possibility of making unremunerative branch passenger services
profitable.
6. The
buses are unsuitable for the conveyance of bulky parcels, bicycles,
perambulators, fish, etc. and alternative arrangements are necessary to
convey such traffic by road or parcels van on freight services.
7. There
have been mechanical and electrical failures of equipment, but it has been
possible to overcome these teething troubles. At present the vehicles
cannot be relied upon to actuate track circuits. This has restricted their
use and special instructions have been issued to ensure safe working.
8. During
late July and August two-car diesel trains had to be used in the Witham
area in place of rail buses, to deal with seasonal traffic.
9. While
this should be regarded as a preliminary report, the London midland Region
have stated that further vehicles of this type should not be introduced.
