Motorail and private cars.
This is my next entry in G&PL it concerns the provisions made for the private motorist by the BTC, I do not envisage massive spending on building an American or mainland European style expressway, autobahn/route or motorway system. The logic and convenience of putting a car on a faster and safer mode of transport are obvious.
This entry takes the form of an article in the spring 1972 Journal of the BTC previewing the services offered for the year ahead. Then I am posting the updated TL and some comments for you to look at after you have looked at the entry.
MOTORAIL OPERATIONS FOR 1972
As the private ownership of motorcars is increasing the desire to take their vehicle to use when travelling is increasing and the BTC is planning a large expansion of the Motorail service. Already there is a network of routes available for the passenger who prefers to use his own vehicle rather than hire one at the destination.
The Brochure below shows the services that Motorail offers its customers.
This includes dining cars night sleeper trains and discounted bookings in British Transport Hotels.
Here is a sample of the fares between London-Perth
Service ran nightly between early May and mid October, and three times a week between late March and 22nd October. Charges (Including sleeper berths) were £18.50 for a car and driver, with each additional adult £7.50 and each child £5.00. Return fares were around two thirds more than the single fare. Service ran 6 days a week between the end of May and 22nd September. Charges were £14.50 for a car and driver, with each additional adult £5.00 and each child £5.00. Return fares were in proportion rather cheaper than the overnight service.
This was a service that I used regularly. I went climbing in Scotland and my sister has lived near Penzance for nearly 30 years. The journeys were both quicker and cheaper by motorail. Even on todays roads in the dead of night you could not drive these journeys in the time the train did them.
Work out the arithmetic, for instance London-Perth 500 miles plus at say 30mpg is nearly 20 gallons of petrol at roughly £1.00 a gallon in 1972. Then look at the fares.
With the added bonus of not arriving shattered by the journey. We could put our car on the train go to the bar in the station have a good session wake up with a cup of tea on the train in Perth breakfast in the cafe over the road and be be on the mountains by lunchtime rested and fed.
I have said previously that I do not have anti car tenancies I do personally enjoy driving. Unfortunately the way things are on our roads now there is very little pleasure in driving it is an extremely high stress activity. I should know I have been teaching people to drive for the last ten years. Any person who genuinely enjoys driving will tell you that pounding along a motorway is neither enjoyable or skillful.
birdy's and DoctorMo's comments on social effects are butterflies I had not fully considered and these are going to require some very careful thought to integrate in a plausible manner.
Airships WILL happen! They are irresistible and my task is going to make it plausible without things getting silly. I shall have to shake my head and get visions of airships like slowly drifting clouds floating over puffing steam trains out of my mind.
My new generation locomotives will look more like todays engines than traditional steam trains.
Latest TL as usual I have attached the TL in my preferred format for you to see.G&PL Timeline Table.pdf
GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND (or how it could have been)
An alternative timeline based on transport in the United Kingdom of Great Britain
1948
G&PL
Formation of British Transport Commission
OTL
Formation of British Transport Commission.
1949
G&PL
First test train of the 0-6-6-0-T Bullied Leader class locomotive.
OTL
Only test train of the 0-6-6-0-T Bullied Leader class locomotive.
1951
G&PL
BR Standard design locomotives introduced. Standardisation across rail system implemented.
OTL
BR Standard design locomotives introduced. Standardisation across rail system attempted.
1953
G&PL
Executive barriers to the integration of the transport systems removed completely.
London Transport coming in the Commission's brief.
OTL
Executive barriers to the integration of the transport systems removed apart from the London Transport Executive.
1955
G&PL
Road Haulage assets standardised in system.
Fifteen year rail modernisation begun.
Multifuel (granulated coal, fuel oil and gas) fired boilers developed driving turbine motors.
New rolling stock developed.
Permanent way and signalling upgraded.
London-Perth Car/Sleeper introduced
OTL
Road haulage assets denationalised.
Fifteen year rail modernisation begun.
Electrification of principle main lines.
Introduction of Diesel locomotives.
New rolling stock developed.
Permanent way and renovated signalling upgraded
London-Perth Car/Sleeper introduced
1956
G&PL
Fear of Middle East oil embargo after Suez stimulates extensive renovation of waterways and existing oil pipelines are extended.
OTL
Commission takes no action after Suez.
1958
G&PL
Less efficient design locomotives replaced by new build post war designs.
Second generation locomotives begin to come into service.
Passenger trains using articulated carriages and driving cab on the rear tested and start to enter service.
More inland waterways are opened up and coastal shipping increased.
OTL
Mass withdrawal of pre-grouping locomotives begun.
Electrification of the West Coast main line begun using the French A/C overhead system despite having already spent large sums on their own D/C system ten years ago.
Preston bypass opens as Britain's first dedicated motorway.
1959
G&PL
Standardisation of all permanent ways begun.
OTL
Closure of permanent ways begun.
1960
G&PL
Newly renovated and widened canals increase their goods traffic.
OTL
First 72 miles of M1 motorway open.
1962
G&PL
Commission starts to negotiate for the inclusion
of aerial transport in its brief.
OTL
Commission is abolished.
1966
G&PL
Motorail brand introduced and London Olympia Terminal opened
OTL
Motorail brand introduced and London Olympia Terminal opened
1969
G&PL
First flight of Concorde
OTL
First flight of Concorde
1994
G&PL
Channel tunnel opened.
OTL
Channel tunnel opened.
1997
G&PL
Motorail transfer stations set up in every major City and town.
OTL
Motorail discontinued apart from London-Penzance
2005
G&PL
50th anniversary celebration of first Motorail route from London-Perth
OTL
London-Penzance Motorail discontinued
2007
G&PL
Brochure publicising 60th anniversary published in Commission journal
OTL
Increasing congestion causing regular delays in SE England. Rail infrastructure degenerating.
2008
G&PL
60th anniversary of Commission.
OTL
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