Phases of
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Passenger Travel
OF late there has been increased activity in all branches of passenger transport in the Tees-side area and in none more so than in the municipalworld. Middle,sbrough's projects, no doubt, are suggested by the loss of £1,665 on the corporation bus services during 1929-30. Stockton, on the other hand, has had a net profit of £7,222, a very satisfactory figure considering the depressed state of trade in the area. Despite this, Stockton is still seeking development and several new services have been and are going to be put into operation.
As was announced a short time ago in The Commercial Motor, the through tram service of Stockton, Thornaby and Middlesbrough Corporations between Norton and North OrmesbY, via Stockton High Street, Thornaby and Middlesbrough Town Hall, is to be abandoned and replaced by buses within two years. The operation of this route has never been very profitable. The route, in addition to others, was operated by the old Imperial Tramways Go., Ltd., until after the war. Then the company was desirous of selling the system' to the corporations concerned. Mickilesbmigh was in favour of this, but Stockton and Thornaby, having foresight, did notZat first agree. Municipal pride, howeyer, was so strong in these boroughs Wit they did not wish their tramway systems to be operated by the !Middlesbrough authority, and each corporation purchased its share.
Almost immediately after this there came a great development in privately operated bus undertakings, and soon a
large number of private bus concerns was operating along the route in opposition to the trams. Although these buses were obliged by licensing conditions to charge higher fares than the tramways, a great number of passengers made use of them for their additional comfort and speed, so that up to now large sums of money have been taken from the municipal tramways by private bus operators.
As the decreases of recent months in receipts on this route have been so serious, the corporations concerned have decided to take immediate action. A temporary bus service is to be put into operation between Stockton High Street and Middlesbrough Town Hall, with consequent reduction in the tram service. It is hoped by this to regain some of the lost traffic. Another new route is to be opened up between Stockton and Middlesbrough via Acklam. This route will serve new residential areas and has, up to the present, been worked by private operators: To deal with these routes, Stockton and Middlesbrough CarporatMns have each ordered six new buses.
In August last Stockton Corporation put into operation a new service via the Blue Hall Estate (the corporation building estate) to Junction Road, Norton, a residential area beyond the tram terminus.
During this year a service has beeu )erated between Stockton and New cad, Billingham, on the Imperial hemical Industries housing estate, in innection with the Dillingham works, Le largest of this great concert's factries in England. This is chiefly to %eve the Yarm-Stockton-Billingliamort Clarence route, on which the traffic exceptionally heavy.
Applications have been made to Duram County Council and the Dillingham frban District Council by Stockton and Vest Hartlepool Corporation for• perfission to run a through service beween these towns, via Dillingham. New ousing areas have grown. up on this oute and it is considered that they mild best be served by a through crvice.
In this -way are the many problems )f passenger-carrying in the Tees-side irea gradually being settled and traightened out according to which nethod is found to be most satisfactory. There is• still room for further coardination.