And is simple and would work. How do I know? Well, I lived in an era when much of this was done, before Dr Beeching, another Government appointed "expert" from industry, decided to demolish much of our rail network, shifting most goods to the roads.
Although few rail containers were around, in those happy empty road days, goods, loose or containerised, went direct to a far bigger network of railheads. There, specialised vehicles like the Scammell "Horse" three wheel tractors were ready to hitch up articulated trailers and tow them around town delivering to addressees. Those Scammells were little truck type tractors, not very fast but sufficiently so for around town. Very manouverable and low geared, they just used a Ford Ten car engine so were economical, and an equivalent today with electric would be great.
Why aren't we already going back to this type of system? It has to be a combination of fear and incompetence on the part of those who rule. Unfortunately the nanny state they've created has infected the creators and all of them live in constant fear of messing up, sitting on their hands and watching out behind them, living by a principle of "if I do nothing, I've done nothing to be blamed for".
Only very few have the courage to act, and they are constantly attacked at every step, so the incentive to give up is strong. The perfect example is Ken Livingstone. Regardless of his politics, under the old GLC he introduced a "Fares Fair" policy that really worked, reducing congestion, increasing bus and tube usage etc, and very popular with most Londoners. The outcome was that a government jealous of his success where they had failed and opposed to his politics abolished the GLC, so destroying his success.
Fortunately he was made of stronger stuff than most politicians and eventually we managed to get him back as Mayor of a reconstituted GLC and he's repeating his success with the Congestion Charge, a huge increase in Cycling with less car usage, increased public transport usage, and free travel for all under 16s to inculcate the public transport habit.
As all who read newspapers and listen to news reports will know, his reward is to be constantly attacked by ever watchful politicians and newspapers opposed to his views and seeking any chance to undermine by highlighting any possible mistake he makes, all presumably wanting to maintain a stasis where nothing ever improves.
They all seem to have forgotten the old saying, one has to break eggs to make omelettes. Progress is never perfect, and that's why courage is so necessary, the willingness to take risks. But our nanny state brigade just can't bring themselves to do that, so we continue to decay as a country.
N.B. I assure you that this posting is not politically motivated. At various times I've been voting Ken in and at the same time voting elsewhere in the opposite political direction. My support is purely for a man who has the courage to act decisively and suffer any opposition resolutely.
Although few rail containers were around, in those happy empty road days, goods, loose or containerised, went direct to a far bigger network of railheads. There, specialised vehicles like the Scammell "Horse" three wheel tractors were ready to hitch up articulated trailers and tow them around town delivering to addressees. Those Scammells were little truck type tractors, not very fast but sufficiently so for around town. Very manouverable and low geared, they just used a Ford Ten car engine so were economical, and an equivalent today with electric would be great.
Why aren't we already going back to this type of system? It has to be a combination of fear and incompetence on the part of those who rule. Unfortunately the nanny state they've created has infected the creators and all of them live in constant fear of messing up, sitting on their hands and watching out behind them, living by a principle of "if I do nothing, I've done nothing to be blamed for".
Only very few have the courage to act, and they are constantly attacked at every step, so the incentive to give up is strong. The perfect example is Ken Livingstone. Regardless of his politics, under the old GLC he introduced a "Fares Fair" policy that really worked, reducing congestion, increasing bus and tube usage etc, and very popular with most Londoners. The outcome was that a government jealous of his success where they had failed and opposed to his politics abolished the GLC, so destroying his success.
Fortunately he was made of stronger stuff than most politicians and eventually we managed to get him back as Mayor of a reconstituted GLC and he's repeating his success with the Congestion Charge, a huge increase in Cycling with less car usage, increased public transport usage, and free travel for all under 16s to inculcate the public transport habit.
As all who read newspapers and listen to news reports will know, his reward is to be constantly attacked by ever watchful politicians and newspapers opposed to his views and seeking any chance to undermine by highlighting any possible mistake he makes, all presumably wanting to maintain a stasis where nothing ever improves.
They all seem to have forgotten the old saying, one has to break eggs to make omelettes. Progress is never perfect, and that's why courage is so necessary, the willingness to take risks. But our nanny state brigade just can't bring themselves to do that, so we continue to decay as a country.
N.B. I assure you that this posting is not politically motivated. At various times I've been voting Ken in and at the same time voting elsewhere in the opposite political direction. My support is purely for a man who has the courage to act decisively and suffer any opposition resolutely.
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