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MUNICIPAL ENTERPRISf
Page 78
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Interesting Statistics Reveal a Diminution of Tramways Operation and Increased Popularity of Motorbuses and Trolleybuses. Mergers Between Corporations and Companies, Pending and Completed
IN the field of passenger transport municipal enterprise during the past year has presented a number of interesting features. The gradual displacement of tramways by motorbuses, and, sometimes, by trolleybuses, may be considered as falling within the normal course of events, but the circumstances in which the changes have been, and are being, effected are, in many cases, of considerable importance.
It will be instructive, as revealing clearly the general trend of events, to consider, in the course of our analysis, a few specific cases, and the interesting features referred to.
To outward appearances, the period under review has been one of comparatively little physical growth, but it is not to be inferred that real progress has been lacking. This is far from being the case.
Interesting Statistics.
In the accompanying tables we have prepared statistics of all municipal activity in passenger transport by motorbuses, trolley-buses and tramcars. The figures in respect of motorbus operation are estimated from data privately obtained ; the figures for trams and trolley-buses are extracted from official returns published by the Ministry of Transport. The figures relate to the municipal years ended March (or
May), 1930-32, and are the latest available.
In motorbus operation, comparing last year with the previous year, we find that the number of operating authorities remains the same (100). There was one newcomer during the year—Luton—but Kilmarnock, the services of which are now amalgamated with others in the Western S.M.T. 'Co., Ltd., dropped out.
The number of authorities actually operating has now been reduced to 99, due to the fact that in the course of the year KeighIey joined forces with the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd. Its undertaking now forms part of the newly. formed Keighley-West Yorkshire Services, Ltd. ' • The scheme in this case is one for which there is no precedent, and it marks an important step forward in the direction contemplated by Parliament in the Road Traffic Act,
clause 105 of which specifically provides for agreements between local authorities and companies or other persons.
Two further proposals on somewhat similar lines, in which the Tilling interests are concerned, are now engaging attention, the local authorities affected being York and Brighton. The York scheme, for which the sanction of Parliament is now being sought, provides for the transfer of the corporation light railway, trolley-vehicle and motorbus undertakings to a new limited company to be formed for that purpose, and the transfer to that company of some of the property of the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd.
Seighley's Amalgamation.
The original share capital of the new company and all further capital and loans are to be subscribed in equal shares by the corporation and the West Yorkshire company. Provision is also made for the abandonment of the municipal light railways and trolley-vehicles which are transferred to the company.
The Brighton scheme, which has been under diScussion for some time, seeks a merger of the tramways services of the corporation and the bus system of Thos. Tilling, Ltd., and it envisages the eventual abandonment of the tramways. As in the other schemes, the profits of the combined undertakings are to be pooled and divided between the parties in agreed' proportions.
Merger at Middlesbrough ?
Middlesbrough Corporation also is in negotiation with United Automobile Services, Ltd. (which is jointly owned by Thos. Tilling, Ltd., and the London and North-Eastern Railway Co.), and the tramways committee has approved the principle of a merger similar to those already described.
A purely municipal unification of Interests has recently been arranged in the case of Burnley, Nelson and Colne, the passenger transport undertakings of which wilt, on April 1, come under the control of a joint transport authority. As a