6 JANUARY 1923, Page 11

But it must not be, supposed that though the new

era has been inaugurated great changes will come quickly. The companies have been given until July 1st to make their arrangements. According to the Daily News it is expected that the personnel of the railways will be considerably reduced. Many of the present railway directors will, of course, disappear. Interesting ques- tions are, What uniforms will the servants of the new groups wear ? What distinctive colours will belong to the trains and engines ? Another fact which made New 'Year's Day important was that the last of the payments from the Government to the companies under the war scheme became due. The sum was £30,000,000.