FRUITS OF CO-ORDINATION
Page 47
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THE South Eastern and Metropolitan Traffic Commissioners have recently approved a scheme of reorganization on the London-Portsmouth route, consequent upon the absorption by Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., of the services of Alexandra Motor Coaches, Ltd., Underwood Express Services, Ltd., Imperial Saloon Coaches, and the HindheadLondon service of the Aldershot and District Traction Co., Ltd. It is understood that part of the Southsea-London service of A. Timpson and Sons, Ltd., is also being absorbed, and that a total sum of about £20,000 is involved by the amalgamation.
The increased Southdown service will be introduced on May 23, when, for the first time, passengers on this route will have the choice of as many as 10 different departure times each_ way daily, with certain additions on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. The London departures will range between 8 a.m. and midnight, and those from Portsmouth between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. At the same time, many new intermediate fares will be introduced, and through bookings will be given to numerous places on the local bus routes of the Southdown and Aldershot and District companies. ,
At Southsea, connections will be made with the steamers to the Isle of Wight, and, by arrangement with the Southern Railway, through bookings are available to all the principal destinations in the Island.
A new fleet of Leyland coaches, with luxurious Harrington coachwork, will be brought into use.
RAILWAYS' DUPLICATION ARGUMENTS FAIL:
TimSouthern Scotland Traffic Commissioners have rejected the submissions of the railway companies in connection with duplication on the Glasgow-Aberdeen route, and the present arrangements remain undisturbed.
The matter was raised in January, when the Commissioners were asked by the railways to decide whether the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., and associated companies were to be sub. ject to the ruling of the Minister of Transport on the duplication of longdistance coaches instead of being allowed the maximum duplication of 25 vehicles enjoyed for some years.
COAL VERSUS PROGRESS.
ANOVEL objection to tramways abandonment will be raised before the Parliamentary Committee when the South Wales Transport Co.'s Bill seeking sanction to discard the tramways at Swansea is examined. In addition to Swansea Corporation and Swansea Chamber of Commerce, the Coal Utilisation Council is to oppose the project.
According to a report presented to the chamber, the Coal Utilisation Council had come to the conclusion that the South Wales Transport Co., if allowed to abandon trams, will use petrol or oil-engined buses, which would be injurious to the coal trade.
RADIO FOR COACH FLEET.
WE learn that the entire fleet of longVT distance touring coaches operated by Westcliff Motor Services, Ltd., has been equipped with Ekco radio apparatus, of the standard five-valve, sevenstage, superbet type.
EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
DiTRING Jubilee week, Bury Corporation's transport department, the general manager of which is Mr. C. P. Paige, A.M.Inst.T., took the opportunity of educating the public in matters of transport by throwing open to inspection the works side of the undertaking. The visitors were sup
plied with copies of an excellently produced, illustrated brochure, which described the progress of the municipal transport system and served as an itinerary of the tour.
OIL TAX KEEPS UP FARES.
PORTSMOUTH Transport Committee cannot recommend reduced workmen's fares, because of higher operating costs. The increase of 7d. per gallon in the tax on oil fuel will raise costs by £4,250 a year.
A COMPREHENSIVE GUID,E.
TMay edition of " Hutchinson's A to 7. Timetables," the proprietor of which is the Red Rail Guide Co„ Ltd., London, W.C.2, has just been issued at the price of Is. 6d. It provides a convenient guide to services from London by rail, coach and air, includinv° also details of Continental services by air and rail. It comprises well over 1,000 pages.
NOTTINGHAM'S RESULTS IMPROVED
SATISFACTORY results are recorded by the report of the passenger-transport committee of Nottingham Corporation for the year ended March 31 last. As compared with the figure for. the previous year, the income rose by £6,316 to £576,642, whilst the working expenses increased by £4,256 to £449,335.
Although the total cost of repairs and maintenance, at £74,918, showed a decrease of £1,370, the corresponding charges in connection with the trolleybuses increased by nearly £10,000, whilst a small increase was shown in respect of the motorbuses. Nevertheless, the cost per mile was, in each case, reduced. The balance is £127,539 against £125,247 last year.
Substantial increases in mileage are recorded for the trolleybuses and motorbuses, but a large decrease in respect of the trains, due to the conversion of tramways to bus working, is shown. Consequently, the number of passengers carried by the trams declined by nearly 21,000,000, whereas the trolleybuses carried over 17,000,000 more persons and the motorbuses an additional 4,000,000.
The municipal bus fleet consisted of 240 vehicles, of which 100 were trolleybuses and 140 motorbuses.
STOKE VERSUS COMMISSIONERS.
STOKE Watch Committee is continuing its protests regarding the alleged inadequacy of the local bus services and its criticisms of the decisions of the West Midland Traffic Commissioners, It was contended, at a meeting of the committee last week, that, if the public needs were not properly met by the Commissioners, the matter should be taken to a higher court.
HUGE JUBILEE TRAFFIC.
ANEW traffic record was created by London Transport during the Silver Jubilee week-end, some 36,009,000 passengers having been carried on the Saturdau, Sunday and Monday. In six days, 69,500,000 passengers were carried.