Page:The Reshaping of British Railways (Beeching Report).pdf/139

 Whilst Table No. 1 shows the stock at the end of 1962, and progressive reduction will take place as services are withdrawn, it must be remembered that review of the utilisation of the rolling stock fleets is a continuing process. Already examination has pinpointed scope for the withdrawal of a further 1,200 passenger coaches; it is reasonable to expect that by the end of 1963 the figure will have risen to 2,500. A further review of the steam locomotive fleet, following one made towards the end of 1962, is in hand.

The composition of the wagon and container fleet over the past ten years, divided into the principal types, is shown in Table No. 2.

Table No. 2.

End of: Goods Mineral Steel carrying Others Total wagons Containers 1953 457,213 592,803 44.020 13,074 1,107,110 29,111 1954 456,508 594,652 45,584 12,946 1,109,690 32,403 1955 455,515 595,264 46,614 12,542 1,109,935 34.223 1956 453,947 587,274 49,867 11,519 1,102,607 35,833 1957 454,061 571.553 54,540/ 9,960 1,090,114 40,212 1958 404,685 542,241 51,920 6,680 1,005,526 47,421 1959 377,062 513,164 49,585 5.449 945,260 50,151 1960 376,913 532,849 52,098 5,138 946,998 49.071 1961 372,459 508,816 55,279 4,989 941,543 48,296 1962 327,762 464,199 52,221 4,409 848,591 46,535

There were no marked changes in the composition of this fleet, other than the introduction of the 24-ton mineral wagon and a number of special type wagons to meet particular requirements. In 1958-9, and again in 1962, however, the fleet was reduced by approximately 150,000 and 100,000 wagons respectively. It has already been decided to make another reduction of 100,000 wagons in 1963 and further withdrawals are contemplated.

It is not practicable at this stage to forecast with accuracy the eventual size of the rolling stock fleets, nor the rates of reduction, but some immediate targets, taking into account all known factors, and assuming adoption of the plan and its progressive development, follow:—

Some of these estimates can be regarded as conservative. All of them will require to be revised from time to time. The number of coaches will be continuously reduced through increased use of multiple units and reduction in high peak services. The reduction in containers refers to the present types and takes no account of the building of new types which will be required for Liner Trains.