Freight Traffic Arrangements.

Turning to the freight side, we find various altered arrangements introduced on the Home railways to meet the special conditions. Railway goods depots have, for some time, been closing at 5.0 p.m. for the acceptance of freight, and earlier closing is probable as the days shorten. This is largely to enable the staffs to get through the bulk of their work before darkness falls. In order to facilitate the handling of traffic, goods tendered for conveyance by rail are required to bear a white label clearly addressed in black ink or type. To assist operations during the “blackout,” railway consignment notes have also to be clearly typed or written in black ink. Where a consignment consists of a number of packages or articles, traders are asked to label all packages to facilitate sorting and dispatch. Senders are also encouraged to forward their shipments in bulk as far as possible, to save transhipment and handling generally. As regards road collection and delivery services, these are being maintained in skeleton form, a daily collection or delivery, for example, in one particular rural area, being cut down to a service on alternate days, and so on. Registered transits by the “Blue Arrow” and “Green Arrow” services, and the railway cashon-delivery arrangements, have been withdrawn, and various other subsidiary services curtailed.