Catalogue description British Transport Commission: Transport Tribunal proceedings

Arising out of nationalisation of transport under the Transport Act 1947 the Railway Rates Tribunal, established under the Railways Act 1921, was renamed the Transport Tribunal (Section 82 of Transport Act 1947), and Part V of the Act, Sections 72 to 87, contains the general provisions as to its functions. The jurisdiction exercised by the Appeal Tribunal established by the Road and Rail Traffic Act 1933 was transferred to the new tribunal under Section 73; the jurisdiction of the High Court with regard to the making or variation of tolls was transferred under Section 74.

Most of the jurisdiction of the Railway and Canal Commission was transferred to the Transport Tribunal under Section 75.

By virtue of the transitional provisions of Section 76 the Transport Commission was obliged to prepare Charges Schemes for submission to the Transport Tribunal and under Section 82 the Minister of Transport could make regulations for charges additional to those in operation under the Railways Act 1921 following consultation with the Permanent Members of the Transport Tribunal acting as a consultative committee.

Under Section 84 the tribunal was given temporary additional jurisdiction as to the classification of merchandise, hitherto exercised by the minister under Section 24 (11) of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act 1888, during the transitional period between January 1st 1948 and the date on which any Charges Scheme affecting such carriage was confirmed.

The tribunal heard appeals against licensing decisions of commission regarding Inland Waterways (Section 35 (3) and Section 36). They also heard appeals from decisions of Licensing Authorities (Sections 56 and 57) and with regard to port facilities (Sections 67-68).

Any order of the Transport Tribunal could be recorded for execution in Scotland under Section 126 (12).