Danes integrate public transport
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A SIMILAR regional transport integration, but on a somewhat smaller scale, is now being prepared for Aarhus, the country's second city. Like the Copenhagen scheme the Aarhus transport system already has several routes projecting into the hinterland.
A State subsidy will initially allow Aarhus Transport to "buy" into services now run by other, private, operators and the State railways. Route information
A feature of many central area stops in Aarhus is the provision of individual stop flags for each service, giving.full route information and times.
and fares will then be adapted to the existing pattern so that better use can be made of facilities provided. Current route length is 349km although this includes five workmen's services and a "summer onlyservice.
The last of the remaining Volvo buses are being phased out by the autumn so that the city will then be able to boast of a 100 per cent Leyland-DAB fleet.
In anticipation of a fleet enlargement to around 200 vehicles by 1980 a new depot and garage will be built This will relieve pressure on the existing main base at Gustav Helms Vej which is responsible for fleet maintenance, servicing and major overhauls.
There is also undercover parking for 99 buses. Close logging of performance data of the Leyland fleet since introduction of the first five units exactly ten years ago has provided the framework for a service cycle which includes some unusual features.
Special attention, for instance, has to be paid to crown wheel wear in Telmafated vehicles as some drive-line wear is apparently attributed to use of the retarder. Brakes are adjusted on a 14-day cycle; chassis lubrication is carried out every 28 days while engine oil is changed every eight weeks.
A general check is carried out on major components once a year and at the same time the alternator is replaced. Transmission overhauls are due at 170,000km and engine overhauls at 375,000km. The Voith D 851 automatic transmission, already in a number of buses, will be specified in future orders.
An unusual method of fare collection practised at Aarhus is based on passengers boarding at the rear of the bus and tendering their — flat — fare when leaving. The system which has been in operation since trams were running in the city is extremely effective in clearing long queues quickly.
All buses also have token-operated turnstiles for use by passengers having pre-purchased tokens. On payment of an extra 50 pre (the fare is DKr 2-., about 20p) the driver issues a transfer ticket for a second ride without restriction as to direction. This must be used within one hour of issue.
Aarhus is extremely conscious of the impor
Aarhus will soon have a 100 per cent Leyland-based fleet. With the exception of the one-door units used on country routes all buses have rear boarding platforms and front exit.
tance of effective information about its services. To a visitor the erection of separate stop-sign posts for each route at various points in the city may seem superfluous, but in a system where there is a lot of one-way routeing the provision of full details ensures that the best is made of the services run.
When trams ceased operation in 1970 the opportunity was taken to build a "buses-only" road in the city centre, which is now used by nine routes.