Evening star., 1949-05-15
British Rails
Facing Deficit
Nationalized Carriers
II aving Difficulty
After Is Months
By Alvin Steinkopf

LONDON.-After IS months OF
naturalization, more than half of
Britain's steam express trains are
running on time.
It's a pretty good record by the
railwayman's watch-the best in
many years-the British Trans
port Commission said. but tar
nished somewhat by the fact that
another 10 per cent Of the express
trains are running more than half
an hour late.
Paint and flowers brighten the
13.500 railway stations, tradition
ally drab.
Slightly more than 10000 loco
motives are straining to the ut
most-on poor coal-to do the
hauling job of a very busy island.
But the nationalized railway
system appears to be heading
toward financial deficit. The
figures for the first full year of
nationalized operation ~ i948
won't be known until some time
this summer. but outgo seemed to
be exceeding revenue. Y
Too Soon to judge
Nearly 100000 men and wom-
en- are working for the transport
system, and they constitute Brit
aims biggest commercial under
taking. But they are not unani-
mously enthusiastic about nation
alization. In recent poll taken
by the railway workers union
newspaper 44.8 per cent answer
ing a questionnaire said they felt
frustrated" because they can't
get their own ideas across for i'm
proving service.
Opponents of naturalization
were able to pick out many flaws,
a strong argument being that rail-
way service costs more without be-
Ing any better. But Transport
Commission officials and union
leaders say it is much too soon to
pass judgment on a complicated
reorganization task which involves
not only railways, but operation of
more than 100 ships, 10 hotels, the
canals. thousands of buses and
trucks and even $4,000 horse
drawn vehicles. The system Is not
only adjusting itself to public
ownership; it is overcoming the
wear and tear of war service.
The casual traveller detects no
great differences. The Flying
Scot still leaves London's Kings
Cross station for the swift run
to Edinburgh. Few trains in the
world could overtake it. The
Golden Arrow from Victoria Sta
tion to the Channel is the last
word in luxury. The branch line
Toonervilles, which collect the
milk cans, are as unpredictable
and unsightly as ever.
The superficial impression that
nothing has changed much is
shared by many railway workers.
The Railway Review, union news
paper which conducted the recent
poll. reported ass per cent of
those questioned thought working
for the state was about the
same" as working for privately
owned companies.
Changes Hurried
Only 81 per cent were "encour-
aged" by the change and 44.8 per
cent complained of Illustration. u
But. whether visible or not
comprehensive changes are being
worked out with all the speed pos
sible. 1t was said by Sir Cyril
Hurcomb. chairman of the Brit
ish Transport Commission.
He pointed out that on Janu-
ary /. 194S, the state took over
SO separate railway undertakings
including the four dominant sys.
TENS which served Britain under
private ownership. They are be-
ing welded into one system, which
involves standardizing equipment
and unifying operating methods
Long established traditions oi
great company must in some In
stances be changed. often against
the opposition of large sections
of railway workers. The signal
men of the L. M. s. and the
Southern Railway have had tc
adopt uniform routines.
| Another vast organizational
problem is dove-tailing railway
services with the services provided
by buses. canals and the great
trucking lines. They are no long
er violently competitive and theii
services are being adjusted. one
to another, to serve the whole
country most effectively. The de-
tails, and setting UP = rate struc-
lture fair to every interest. present
a task which may require years
Ito complete. Sir Cyril said.
y lDistrituted b. the Aasoctstsd preeoJ