BRITISH TRANSPORT COMMISSION.
EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE
WORKS & EQUIPMENT COMMITTEE HELD ON
7/11/56.
| Minute No. 771(a). | Works and Equipment Items. | |
| APPROVED. | £ |
Item No. 2. Economic Operation of Rail Passenger Services in Rural Areas.
SUBMITTED memorandum dated 30th October by British Railways Central Staff in respect of the purchase of 20 lightweight diesel railbuses for experimental purposes.
It was noted that the design of the vehicle offered by British United Traction Ltd. (Park Royal Vehicles) is the British version of the German Uerdingen railbus but there was no recommendation for the placing of an order with the British firm. It was noted, also, that the total cost of the two vehicles which it was proposed should be built by British Commercial Vehicles Ltd. was £32,000, including development charges of £10,000 for the construction of a prototype.
Reference was made to the approximate tare weights of the vehicles offered by the respective firms as set out in Appendix "B" to the memorandum. In this connection Mr. Watkins pointed out that considerable difficulties had been experienced with the operation of track circuits when lightweight vehicles had been employed and for this reason he was in favour of the heavier vehicles it was proposed to purchase from Germany.
After a full discussion it was agreed to recommend that the number of vehicles should be increased to 22 to enable orders to be placed with the five firms who had submitted tenders, including British United Traction Limited, and that the British Railways Central Staff should examine, in conjunction with the General Managers, the Regional allocation of the vehicles for operating purposes. Authority was given for orders to be placed with the following firms in respect of the 20 vehicles already authorised:-
| Firm |
No. of Vehicles |
Estimated Cost |
||
| £ | ||||
| Waggon & Maschinenbau Donauworth |
5 | 78,380 | ||
| Wickhams Ltd. | 5 | 57,500 | ||
| A.C. Cars Ltd. | 5 | 50,000 | ||
| British United Traction Ltd. | 5 | 62,500 | ||
| 248,380 | ||||
It was agreed that the British Railways Central Staff should submit a memorandum recommending the placing of an order with Bristol Commercial Vehicles Ltd., for the two further vehicles, including development charges for the construction of a prototype, and seeking authority for the additional expenditure involved.