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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
LONDON TRANSPORT TO RAISE FARES
AS was anticipated, London Transport is shortly to raise fares on its bus, tram, trolleybus and coach ser
vices. The standard of a Id. a mile for ordinary fares will be maintained, and no general revision of fare stages is con templated. The all-the-way single fare of 5d., applying on certain routes, will he increased to fid., and the corresponding workmen's return fare to 7d.
Ordinary return fares, where less than double the single fare, will be withdrawn, with the exception of the 8d. all-the-way return fare, which will be increased to 9d. The present id. cheap midday fare is to be withdrawn, and the 2d. cheap midday fare will be restricted to journeys for which the ordinary single fare does not exceed 4d. For longer journeys it will be increased to 3d. Changes are also to be made in connection with all-day fares and scholars' fares.
An increase is to be made in the fares on the coach services of the Board, and although there will be little change in the single fares, which now conform, generally, to the• Id. a mile standard, return fares, which are now on a basis of approximately one-and-a-half times. the single fare, will be slightly increased. Coach season-ticket rates on certain routes, where they are below the present standard of charge, are to be adjusted.
LINK-UP PLAN OPPOSED IN ABERDEEN.
THE Traffic Commissioners for Northern Scotland had before them, last week, an application by W, Alexander and Sons, Ltd., to link up its Deeside and Donside suburban bus services in Aberdeen. The company's object is to create a cross-town and cross-country service so that passengers can travel from one suburban area to another without having to change.
The application was opposed by Aberdeen Town Council, Aberdeen County Council, and Aberdeen District Council. The town council maintained that the proposed service would add to the congestion and would interfere with the smooth running of the corporation's bus and tram services. The County and District Councils objected on the grounds that there would be a reduction in the frequency of the services to several points in the suburban areas.
For the applicants, it was said that the effect of the proposed change would be to increase the Deeside service and make a slight reduction in the service on the Donside route. The company was prepared to amend its application to increase the service to Stoneywood at rush periods, which would eliminate B42 one of the objections of the County Council. Dealing with the Town Council's objection, it was stated that the number of journeys from Bridge Street to St. Nicholas Street, and along George•Street, would be reduced by 16 per day.
Speaking for the County Council, it was said that it had viewed, with some perturbation, the proposal to run a through-service because, at present, there were complaints about delays, and it was apprehensive that the delays would be more frequent and more prolonged if the change were introduced.
The application was adjourned to allow the amendment as regards the service to Stoneywood to be published, together with a composite time-table.
UNDRESS CRITICIZED IN DUNDEE.
EMPLOYEES of Dundee Transport Department, who will not wear the collars and ties provided by the corporation as part of their uniform, were criticized at a meeting of the transport committee, last week. The question of new tunics for transport workers was raised, and Treasurer Caldwell remarked that, " If they get the new tunics they want they will have to wear the collar and tie which we are paying for. There are to be no open cricket shirts in the summer time."
Mr. G. Croft : "Suppose they come in a muffler."
Treasurer Caldwell: " They are to be sent home :f they appear in a muffler, the same as men who appear in offices in plus-fours."
Bailie Drummond said the wearing of the collar and tie should be insisted upon.
3,000 WORKMEN USE PRIVATE CARS
DETERMINED steps are being taken by the West Midland Traffic Commissioners to protect the interests of legitimate operators against the increasing poaching by owners of private cars. That 3,000 workmen employed at the Austin works at Longbridge, Birmingham, now travel to and from their work by private car, whereas formerly they used buses, was a statement made during the hearing of a prosecution at Wolverhampton, last week, against three Wolverhampton men, each of whom was fined £3 and costs for driving without a p.s.v. licence.
It was said that there were seven authorized services from Wolverhampton to the Austin works, including three with unrestricted picking-up. points. These services, it was added, had to be run to a time-table, at workmen's fares, and then had to be maintained throughout the year, whether there were passengers or not. It was the duty of the Commissioners, therefore, to protect the interests of such licence-holders against " poaching."
OIL ON BRAKE DRUMS LEADS TO FINE.
AT Ayr Police Court, last week, the Western Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., of Ayr, was fined £1 for having caused, or permitted, a motor bus to be used in inefficient order.
On behalf of the company it was explained that, on examination, it had been found that oil had got on to the brake drums, causing the brakes to lose their efficiency.
FARES AGREEMENT IN MIDDLESBROUGH
rOMPLETE agreement has been ...reached between Middlesbrough Corporation and United Automobile Services, Ltd., regarding a proposed revised fare list drawn up by Mr. F. Lythgoe, the corporation transport manager. The new fares provide for a maximum single fare of 2d., a workmen's maximum return fare of 3d., a four-journey maximum fare of 6d., and several revisions of the ld. and lid. fares.
GLASGOW TAXIDRIVERS' DISPUTE SETTLED.
THE offer which has been made by John Paterson (Motors), Ltd., Glasgow, for a settlement of the claims made by the company's taxidrivers, has been accepted by the men.
The new conditions provide lor a
wage of Ss. for a 60-hour week, with overtime at the rate of is, per hour.
Sunday rates will be 7s. 6d. per shift. In addition, the men will be given a week's holiday with pay.
COMMISSIONERS AT LOGGERHEADS.
IN granting a licence, on Wqdnesday, to Surrey Motors, Ltd., to run an express service from Sutton, Surrey, to Clacton-on-Sea, the Metropolitan Commissioners said that they were of the opinion that the onus of providing proof of need was not upon the applicant.
A previous licence granted to the company was opposed by the Eastern Commissioners, objectors at that time being the railway companies and the Eastern National Omnibus Co., Ltd.
W. Alexander and Sons, Ltd., proposes to introduce a new bus service between Somerville Road, Leven, and Methilhill, running via Shorehead and Dock Gates, 14Iethil.
SCOTTISH BUSMEN'S WAGES CONFERENCE
DtiRING the next few days a special negotiating committee of the Transport and General Workers' Union will deal with 40 resolutions, from all parts of Scotland, concerning the wages and conditions of 8,000 workers employed by the• Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd. Afterwards a conference will be held, and the management will be approached with a view to opening up discussions.
Last November, a conference of delegates decided to give three months' notice to the management to terminate the present agreement.
NEW PAISLEY BUS STATION.
The Paisley Dean of Guild Court has granted permission to Young's Bus Services, Ltd., Paisley, to construct a garage with accommodation for 50 buses on a site at Gordon Street, Paisley,