One For Bliarout
Discussion
OK - gonna make your day.
Worked at a company today where what I carried could (and was) be reasonably carried by train. When I was a lad, stations would be busy with loads of little vans picking up mail to take it to the local sorting office. Today i took a 38 tonner from Gatwick to Daventry, back to East London and then back to Gatwick. Each "Hub" was ridiculously busy, with trucks whizzing about from everywhere.
It would surely make more sense to shove it all on a train, although I recall reading that the Post Office are scrapping their mail train and worse still, closing their private underground railway which runs across London (How much more traffic will that produce in the city).
Please find at least a small point to argue over, as if we agree once more I will probably explode!
Steve
Worked at a company today where what I carried could (and was) be reasonably carried by train. When I was a lad, stations would be busy with loads of little vans picking up mail to take it to the local sorting office. Today i took a 38 tonner from Gatwick to Daventry, back to East London and then back to Gatwick. Each "Hub" was ridiculously busy, with trucks whizzing about from everywhere.
It would surely make more sense to shove it all on a train, although I recall reading that the Post Office are scrapping their mail train and worse still, closing their private underground railway which runs across London (How much more traffic will that produce in the city).
Please find at least a small point to argue over, as if we agree once more I will probably explode!
Steve
So, let me get this straight. You are advocating a system of freight on the railways. Centralised hubs for major connurbations and smaller trucks making only local runs for delivery to end user.
This frees up the countries motorway network, reduces congestion and reduces the amount of roadworks as HGV's are not pounding the surface to pieces.
Taken to it's logical conclusion, London could have a freight network running overnight on the tube when passengers are in bed. Over time, major connurbations could have these hubs linked to shopping centres by underground or overground delivery tunnels. All it needs is someone with vision to implement it.
Well, it's a good idea coming from a trucker, but I can see the downfall......
You could never tax it!!
This frees up the countries motorway network, reduces congestion and reduces the amount of roadworks as HGV's are not pounding the surface to pieces.
Taken to it's logical conclusion, London could have a freight network running overnight on the tube when passengers are in bed. Over time, major connurbations could have these hubs linked to shopping centres by underground or overground delivery tunnels. All it needs is someone with vision to implement it.
Well, it's a good idea coming from a trucker, but I can see the downfall......
You could never tax it!!towman said:
When I was a lad, stations would be busy with loads of little vans picking up mail to take it to the local sorting office.
You do realise I'm gonna have nightmares now featuring those poxy three wheel articulated Scammell Scarabs and Townsmen. aaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!
Apologies to all for mentioning such abominations :spit spit: on a petrol head site.
BliarOut said:
So, let me get this straight. You are advocating a system of freight on the railways. Centralised hubs for major connurbations and smaller trucks making only local runs for delivery to end user.
This frees up the countries motorway network, reduces congestion and reduces the amount of roadworks as HGV's are not pounding the surface to pieces.
Taken to it's logical conclusion, London could have a freight network running overnight on the tube when passengers are in bed. Over time, major connurbations could have these hubs linked to shopping centres by underground or overground delivery tunnels. All it needs is someone with vision to implement it.
Well, it's a good idea coming from a trucker, but I can see the downfall......
No, no, no,no,no,no,no,no,no,nooooooooooooooooooo!
I only said for the mail. time sensitive, relatively compact with an urban distribution system already in place and part of the logistics chain.
Flat in Fifth said:
When I was a lad, stations would be busy with loads of little vans picking up mail to take it to the local sorting office.
You do realise I'm gonna have nightmares now featuring those poxy three wheel articulated Scammell Scarabs and Townsmen. aaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!
Apologies to all for mentioning such abominations :spit spit: on a petrol head site.
Just for you sir ...
Its a fantastic idea and one that would provide genuine benefits for something like 30%-50% of the population on a daily basis (i.e. the ones that use major roads on a daily basis that is). Traffic congestion would fall, average speeds increase, pollution and environmental issues would reduce and everyone would be happier / cleaner ....
BUT the problem is that the government and haulage companies have been trying this for years. Each and every time that they find a site for a local distribution centre the locals block it!!! I mean, the last one I know about is Alconbury in Cambridgeshire. Its one of the longest runways in the UK and used to be a massive US airbase until around the early 90's. Anyway, closed down and would make an EXCELLENT point for one. Great access to roads, no locals around and zero impact on the countryside because it would only improve from a flaming disused airbase.....
Anyway, bunch of NIMBY's got to gether and blocked it.... so they end up with one of the most heavily congested A roads in Europe due to the additional traffic. I mean, the short-sightedness displayed is just mammoth.... Do something about the trucks on the A14 and it benefits them, but they dont want an old deserted airfield turned into a place of employment for locals....morons....
So, try as everyone does, its the PUBLIC that dont want this! Government has tried and failed. Private business has tried too..... but thwarted by some stupid NIMBY because he doesnt want a truck driving on an airfield 5 miles away....
Aint planning great?
BUT the problem is that the government and haulage companies have been trying this for years. Each and every time that they find a site for a local distribution centre the locals block it!!! I mean, the last one I know about is Alconbury in Cambridgeshire. Its one of the longest runways in the UK and used to be a massive US airbase until around the early 90's. Anyway, closed down and would make an EXCELLENT point for one. Great access to roads, no locals around and zero impact on the countryside because it would only improve from a flaming disused airbase.....
Anyway, bunch of NIMBY's got to gether and blocked it.... so they end up with one of the most heavily congested A roads in Europe due to the additional traffic. I mean, the short-sightedness displayed is just mammoth.... Do something about the trucks on the A14 and it benefits them, but they dont want an old deserted airfield turned into a place of employment for locals....morons....
So, try as everyone does, its the PUBLIC that dont want this! Government has tried and failed. Private business has tried too..... but thwarted by some stupid NIMBY because he doesnt want a truck driving on an airfield 5 miles away....
Aint planning great?
pbrettle said:
Its a fantastic idea and one that would provide genuine benefits for something like 30%-50% of the population on a daily basis (i.e. the ones that use major roads on a daily basis that is). Traffic congestion would fall, average speeds increase, pollution and environmental issues would reduce and everyone would be happier / cleaner ....
BUT the problem is that the government and haulage companies have been trying this for years. Each and every time that they find a site for a local distribution centre the locals block it!!! I mean, the last one I know about is Alconbury in Cambridgeshire. Its one of the longest runways in the UK and used to be a massive US airbase until around the early 90's. Anyway, closed down and would make an EXCELLENT point for one. Great access to roads, no locals around and zero impact on the countryside because it would only improve from a flaming disused airbase.....
Anyway, bunch of NIMBY's got to gether and blocked it.... so they end up with one of the most heavily congested A roads in Europe due to the additional traffic. I mean, the short-sightedness displayed is just mammoth.... Do something about the trucks on the A14 and it benefits them, but they dont want an old deserted airfield turned into a place of employment for locals....morons....
So, try as everyone does, its the PUBLIC that dont want this! Government has tried and failed. Private business has tried too..... but thwarted by some stupid NIMBY because he doesnt want a truck driving on an airfield 5 miles away....
Aint planning great?
And about 300 yards from John Majors house... Nuff said
Actually, i wasn`t referring to the Scarab. Watch the old version of The Ladykillers (great film), and look at all the activity going on in the station. And then laugh yourself sick at the lack of traffic on the Euston rd!!! (If thats the name of it, I cant be bothered to get out the A-Z)
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