Page:The Reshaping of British Railways (Beeching Report).pdf/147

 Conclusions

Studies have been taken to a stage where it is apparent that the Liner Trains concept is one of great promise for the Railways, and a very broad estimate of the contribution which a system of such services might make to the finances of British Railways by 1970 is £12.5 m. over direct costs. By comparison, full load general merchandise traffic at present on rail fails to cover its direct costs by £31.8 m. a year.

Design studies have been taken to the point where decisions on equipment can be made very quickly. Market studies will have to be taken further before the full scope of the route system can be decided, but, in the meantime, attention is being concentrated on two of the most promising routes with a view to making the case for operating a one-train service over each of these by late 1964. Services which are receiving this special study are a double round trip per day between London and Liverpool, and a single round trip per day linking Sheffield with London and Birmingham.