Page:The Reshaping of British Railways (Beeching Report).pdf/81

 Table No. 21

Number of wagons

Number of private sidings

Wagons

Actual

Percentage of total

'000 wagons

Percentage of total

(Figures in brackets are cumulative)

Less than 50 wagons 1,033  17  16  0

50-499 1,642  28 (45)  359  1 (1)

500-2,499 1,464  25 (70)  1,774  6 (7)

2,500-9,999 900  15 (85)  4,781  15 (22)

10,000-29,999 621  11 (96)  10,687  33 (55)

30,000 wagons and over 234  4 (100)  14,619  45 (100)

5,894 100  32,236  100

Clearly, a study of the position of each private siding in the smaller sized groups may well reveal that their usefulness is far removed from what was originally intended.

During the week ended 23rd April, 1961, a special study was made of wagon-load freight traffic despatched by rail.

The test covered virtually the whole of the traffic forwarded to and from stations and private sidings during the selected week. In relation to the total traffic for 1961, it was estimated to represent about one week's proportion.

The week selected for the test was reasonably representative of the general pattern of the wagon-load traffic carried, although it was appreciated that there were substantial seasonal traffics and that there could be appreciable fluctuations in regular traffics.

The volume of wagon-load General Merchandise and Minerals traffic recorded in the test week was:—

The receipts and estimated costs shown below were:—