to death. course.
of course, Not so much for what Pledges The ke workers in worse work.
John Sturrock (Report)
whereby many and trains, that the local their plans both trend.
must be particular, expenditure.
community.
by A.F When Labour took office in 1974, they did so on a clear pledge to rebuild a public transport axed almost The Manitesto promises were none too soon. Previous govtrying to run transpor as a profitable concern and not as a public service, had implemented a spiralling round of fare increases, staff redundancies and service cuts.
Such a policy, creating chronic road congestion as passengers 'deserted' to cars in droves, , has not, of led to 'solvency'. A DOE survey (after the 1958 Beeching cuts) pointed out that no transport system could be protitable and that 'cuts ol 20-30% would leave British Rail losing even more money' Despite the truth of this predication, to ever more cuts in road and rail services. lurnine oublic iransoort into a shadow of its former self.
Despite ine manitesto promises Labour's brief spell in office is accelerating this trend. Crosland's transport policy seems summed up in the Iriaht of every person to owr a car'. The true meaning of such a policy is glaringly revealed in the break-down of local authorities' transport grants which allocates only 26% to 'public transport!.
Such a policy, that will force local authorities to turther axe services already on their last legs, is doubly stringent wnen it is realised inat. in line with general cut-backs in social expenditure, transport grants are being reduced this year from *lyim io a mere drom. ne situation rural areas are fast •eine cesetec or anv oublic iransaor! at all will become widespread.
Crosland has even gone so far as to threaten withdrawing the grant from local authorities - such as the west mialands - wno retuse lo pa) their way! by introducing further cuts and fare increases.
Worsening The fare increases and service cuts Crosland's policy calls for - on a more drastic scale than in ine past -will not ensure 'solvency!. It will only drive more passengers off the buses decreasing revenue and preparing the ground for ever more savage inroads into public transport. ne vicious circie wiii continue. This is the history of London Trans•or over une bast lei years or su where deteriorating services and rapid fare increases have resulted in a drop in the numbers of passengers carried by just over 20% Worsening transport services will thus adding to a record road congestion. It also penalises those who are least able to find alternative transport: those on low incomes, the aged, sick and mothers with voune chilaner Already it is estimated that 50% of all users or britisn hall are in tne top 20% incomes' bracket. Further increases will only deepen such a Stop the Cuts The present Labour government was not elected to pursue Crosland's proTory policies of making transport 'pay its way!. It was elected to reverse ine suicidal irena or the past years which has meant redundancies for Iransoont workers ano deterioralinc living standards for millions. Labour must be held to its promises If the transport unions were to lead a head-on struggle against the cuts -in defence of their members' jobs -they would find a broad response in the labour movement. They could, Ir find common cause with other public sector workers who are also effected by cut-backs in social Such a struggle could be the first step in demanding inal Labour implement a nationally co-ordinated transport plan dasea not on tne mytr of profitability but upon serving the