Noted that the Commission's request for a review of all diesel
multiple unit services in operation or projected had been
completed and a report sent to the Commission on November
13th.
Mr.Nicholls referred to the comments
in the report in respect of the West Cumberland scheme and said
that subsequent to the report a seperate assessment of net
receipts on the three sections of the scheme had been
made. This was necessarily on broad lines and so far
expenditure was concerned was on the basis of the 1955-56
post-costing figures uplifted to current levels. The
seperate assessment now made indicated that, contrary to the
suggestion made in the report, the Silloth branch was in fact
making a contribution to the track and signalling costs and that
the deficiency on the diesel working arose on the other sections
of the scheme.
It was agreed that a complete
examination of the passenger and freight working on the Silloth
branch be made before any decision was reached as to withdrawal
of the passenger services.
(3) Allocation of units being built at
Derby and by Contractors
Revised schedule of allocation attached as Appendix "B".
Mr.Nicholls said he was informed that the back-checking of the
Bury-Bacup scheme would be complete with in the next week for
submission to the Commission. Copies to be circulated
to members of the Committee.
(5) Conveyance of Parcels
Traffic
(a) Greater Birmingham Scheme
Mr.Fiske referred to the submission to the Commission, which
showed 55 locomotives saved and 18 additional, and said that
the question had been raised as to whether these 18
locomotives were for working the parcels trains.
Mr.Nicholls stated that the 55 and 18 were numbers which could
not usefully be analysed and the reason for showing them
separately was that they were different types of locomotives
with different costs. The essential position was that
37 engines net had been saved.
