Operating
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Aspects of
PASSENGER TRANSPORT
BUSES PREFERRED TO STEAMERS
TAVELLERS between Glasgow and C ampbeltown, Kintyre, which is on the Atlantic seaboard, have shown a decided preference to travel by the new bus Service which has been started between the two centres, instead of journeying by steamer, as was previously the case. This is one of the reasons given by the Clyde and Campbeltown Shipping Co., Ltd., for the intimation that it is closing down its Glasgow-Campbeltown passenger service, owing to lack of support.
Prior to the outbreak of war, the company had decided to end the daily passenger service in September. But. ouing to the public demand, and the expectation that petrol rationing might restrict bus travel, it was decided to carry on a reduced steamer service of three sailings a week. This has been maintained since, but the expectalions of additional traffic have not materialized, it is stated.
TRAM GARAGE SPACE NEEDED FOR TROLLEYBUSES
FOLLOWING a long discussion, Manchester City Council has approved a recommendation of its transport committee to dispose of 77 trams to provide garage accommodation at the Hyde Road depot for new trolleybuses, which are to replace the trams.
Councillor R. Breeze moved that the recommendation should be referred back, on the score that it was a most inopportune time to discard tramcars, when it was said that increased fuel costs for buses already amounted to £38,000 a year.
Councillor R. Malcolm defended the committee's action, and expressed the view that the trams were unfit for further service.
COMMISSIONER HEARS POTTERIES BUS COMPLAINTS LAST week, Sir Arnold Must°, Midland Regional Transport Commissioner, held an inquiry to hear complaints concerning inadequate bus services in the Potteries district. The first day's sitting was at Newcastleunder-Lyme and the town clerk stressed the fact that since the start of the war complaints had been made by corporation me-nbers of the inadequate bus services. Members of the council also gave evidence of alleged irregular runnina.° of buses. A point was made of the fact that buses had been taken off certain . tOwn routes so as to serve Government factories outside the area. The Commissioner pointed out that extra fuel had been allowed for this purpose.
On the following day the Commis sioner sat at Stoke-on-Trent, when the case for better services in the city area was submitted on behalf of Stoke Corporation. The town clerk stated that 140 buses had been taken from city services to convey workmen to and from Government factories outside the city, this procedure being responsible for much hardship amongst the travelling public.
Mr. J. H. Stirk, North Midlands Regional Transport Commissioner, pointed out that it was now almost impossible to get additional vehicles.
After hearing operators' views, Sir Arnold Musto said that the complaints would receive sympathetic consideration.
KEIGHLEY'S NEW BUS STATION NEARS COMPLETION
rOMPLETION of Keighley's new central bus station, which is being constructed primarily for the use of the joint bus undertaking of Keighley Corporation and the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., is expected by Whitsuntide. The site, in Townfield Gate, covers nearly 2,000 square yds. In addition to a canopied platform, there will be facilities for loading and unloading at a long island in the centre
of the site. There will be four bus crossings—two at each end of the stat PRAISE FOR BOURNEMOUTH'S BUS DRIVERS
B°uRNEMOUTII Corporation has expressed appreciation of the remarkable achievement of its bus drivers. who, in the first five months of the war. travelled 352,000 miles without a single serious accident.
BUSES AID RATE RELIEF AT WOLVERHAMPTON
ARECOMMENDATION that an amount not exceeding £10,000 be allocated from the surplus on the transport undertaking for the relief of the rates has been made by Wolverhampton Transport Committee, • BLACKBURN'S BUS-LOSS FEAR A T a meeting of Blackburn Town Council, Councillor Hare, chairman of the finance committee, estimated a loss of £3,006 on the buses during the municipal year commencing on April 1, against a loss of £195 for the year just concluding.
EASTER NIGHT SERVICE TO BLACKPOOL
ASPECIAL Easter night service is, we learn from London Coastal Coaches, Ltd., announced to run on March 21 to Blackpool via Newcastleunder-Lyme, Knutsford, Warrington, ,Wigan and Preston, departing from the Victoria Coach Station at 9.30 p.m., and from King's Cross Coach Station at 10 p.m
£6 PER TON FOR OLD • TRAM RAILS
BURNLEY Corporation is anxious to assist the prosecution of the war by letting the Government have nearly 1,500 tons of tram rails, which have remained in various parts of the town since the change-over to buses. Burnley, CoMe and Nelson Joint Transport Committee, however, will have to agree to forgo all claim on the metal. The Government has offered £6 per ton for the rails and at this figure, corporations will be able to remove the rails and reinstate the road surfaces.
HIGHER WORKMEN'S FARES AT HALIFAX
REPLYING to a debate on workmen's fares, Councillor C. Holdsworth, chairman of the passenger transport committee, told Halifax Town Council that the costs of the department had gone up by £48,000, and an estimated deficit for 1941 was £53,000. The council approved a proposal to increase workmen's fares in the borough from single rate for a double journey to approximately a fare and a third. It also rejected a resolution that workmen's fares be extended from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Seconding an amendment to The first proposal—that the matter he deferred for six months—Councillor F. Sharp said that the whole thing savoured of a panicky resolution. The burden was. falling on one class only.
JOINT COMMITTEE'S EFFORTS
TO COUNTER LOWER REVENUE FROM April 1, Burnley, Colne and I Nelson Joint Transport Committee is to revise bus fares. Workmen's discount tickets will be raised by 10 per cent. and there will be an increase in the cost of tickets issued to employees of local authorities and the post office. An increase in some, if not all, ordinary fares is expected. School tickets will remain unchanged. In the past six months, through reduced mileage, there has been a decrease in revenue averaging 2700 per week
BLACKPOOL'S EFFORT TO MEET DEFICIENCY
TH E decision of the transport committee to abolish contract " reduced-fare " and return tickets was confirmed by Blackpool Town Council, a few days ago, in face of opposition. Councillor Hill said the difference between the economic price of contracts and the amounts paid was 150 . per cent. The department had contributed substantially to the relief of rates, and in these times people haying advantages should not press to retain them. A deficiency of £29,000 had to be met. The alternative was a minimum fare of lid., or a charge on the rates,
Alderman J. Potter said the department had to face increased transport costs of £29,000. with an additional £20,000 within the next six months. Out of the rates, the concessions would mean 5d. or 6d. in the Z.