The Lucknow Sentinel, 1980-11-19, Page 281980 Page Seiatifielt Wednesday, November 26
*from, line
tiices.
' Unless conditions are met, trains will 'be
unable to achieve substantially higher
speeds or greater comfort than the Turbo
and people will continue to drive or fly.
asseager services in o
'Canada• are generally slow and uncomfort-
able is, that they run on a track which is
constantly pounded by heavy trains.
For years, CN and CP have been trying to
cut costs by acquirieg heavier freight cars
and combining them into longer trains.
The fact that the track cannot stand up to
such abuse and that, passengers riding over
_are..therefore subjected_ to.
constant vibration is considered an unfortun-
ate- but unavoidable by-product Of the
operation.
The secret of the European railway
systems,• running freight trains and high
speed passenger trains on the same track,
lies in the weight limits which they impose
on their freight cars and lecorhotives.
European freight trains are invariably
shorter than North American ones, and with
few exceptions, they receive a lower order'of
priority in the scheduling process than
passenger trains; in Canada, it is the other
way round.
It is argued that the freight orientation of
Canadian railways- makes sense, since
freight accounts for more than 80 per cent of
their revenues. But in commercial terms, the
Task Force has seen convincing evidence
that long-term maintenance, savings would
outweight-Short-term revenue losses, if the,
railways were to reduce the weight of their
freight trains. Safety is yet another consid-
erition, though no iovernment haS yet
spoken up against the potential hazards
posed-by-a-l00-ton projectile.
In theory, access to more than one railway
should provide shippers with a choice of
carriers who enhance their efficiency and
lower their prices becaUse they are com-
peting for -available business. In practice it
does not necessarily work that way.
Indeed, says the report, there are instan-
ces where the rivalry between• the railways
far from being an advantage, Imposes an ,
undue burden on the shipper. Needlessly
high transportation costs for the customer
are created by the 4-mile "interswitching7
limit ,and each railways' refusal to use a
competitor's line even though it be shorter
than its Will, It is imposSible, for instance, to
ship from Toronto to Vaneouver via CN part
of the Way,and CP the rest, even though this
cho
either railway can offer. , Why should
shippers not have access to any route.,
regardless of the ownership of the right-of-
way?
On the other hand, the lower prices which
should be a by.Product of competition have
failed to materialize, for the simple reason
that the Jaw allow's CP and CN to' set their
ratts jointly behind,
Perhaps, recommends the report, it is
time to dust -off a suggestion, made 45 yeart
ago by E. W. Beatty, Chairman of the Board
and President of Canadian Pacific, Beatty k
argued before the 1935 Royal 'Commission
that, if the two railways were amalgaMated,
"The more favourably situated lines, the
better: facilities and equipment of the two
companies would be available to carry out
the combined operation' in the:most efficient k
manner and at the least expense,..:.In every •
case where the two companies are perform-
ing similar services, if either company is
more advantageously placed, that advantage
would be secured for the operation of unified
property. Gradually, duplication in facilities
would disappear with resultant decrease in
maintenance expense."
Such an amalgamation does not constitute
a monopoly, states the report, Leaving aside
their diversified operations, CP and CN are
not in the railway , business, they are in the
transportation businesS and they have plenty
of competitors Water-
ways' and in the air.
It is possible to-: assume—that,- by
elminating duplicate -services , and ancient
rivalries, they could become more efficient
and competitive with other transportation
modes to their own 'advantage and the
advantage of their customers. Otherwise,
railways shOuld be subject to competition
legislation, so that shippers might benefit
from lower prices. Either they are competing
with each other or they are not, states the
report; there is no apparent reason why the
railways should have it both ways.
Brucestudents con'. b
.back. in ..h401..Monday
Bruce County secondary school
students could be, back in school next
Monday.
A tentative agreement was reached
in Guelph Sunday between the Bruce
county board of education and its 220
striking secondary school teachers.
Both parties will meet Thursday to
vote on ratifiCation of the agreement.
The settlement, which was reached
Sunday night, followed two days of
mediation,, ,talks with provincial
mediator l'Vttin...Teplitsky who .asked
that the terms of the proposed contract
not be discussed until after ratification.
The weekend's negotiations followed
a 14 hour session Wednesday in Owen
Sound during which several minor
items were settled. The issues of
staffing, timetabling and salaries were
discussed over 12 hours Saturday and
six hours Sunday before the an-
nouncement of the tentative agreement
by Mr. Teplitsky.
Mr. Teplitsky said in a prepared
speeCh Sunday night that the proposed
contract is "fair and equitable" and
"recognizes the legitimate interests
and concerns of the teachers, the
trustees and the public."
lie said the result is consistent with
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what an arbitrator would have done.
"That , the parties reached such an
agreement voluntarily augurs well for
the future of collective bargaining in
Bruce county," he said.
Bruce county director of education
Jack Bowers said the board will
arrange to have the 'teachers in the
schools Friday to prepare for the
resumption of classes next Monday.
Members of both negotiating teams
were reported to be greatly relieved
Sunday, when the negotiatiti •
over. It was also reported that the
teachers seemed happier than the
board.
Bob Buckthorn, chairman of the
teachers' bargaining team said there
were compromises on both sides.
Teacher spokesman Bob Farrell
would not comment on the negotiations
saying he would have lots to say once
the contract has been ratified.
The teachers were informed of , the
details of the contract at a mass
meeting held in Port Elgin Tuesday
night. Under the terms of Bill 100 they
must be given 36 hours between
Uotification of the terms and the
ratification vote,