BLACK-OUT JOURNEY-TIMES INCREASED
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AN agreement has been reached between the management of Glasgow Corporation's transport department and the local branch of be Transport and General Workers' Union regarding amended schedules for bus drivers and conductors.
The new schedules will increase journey times during the black-out and will enable all men to complete their cycle of duties in a spread-over of two parts, instead of three parts, as formerly. The altered time-tables involve extensive reorganization and are expected to bring about all-round improvements.
Bailie David S. Brown, convener of the Corporation transport department, commenting on the complaints made by the passengers about bus services during the black-out, said that many of the statements were untrue.
More co-operation between the travelling public and the municipal bus and tram operatives is suggested by the T.G.W.U. as a step towards remedying the transport difficulties in Glasgow. In a statement issued on January 12, the Union declares that complaining passengers represent but a small percentage of the 1,250,000 who travel daily on the corporation vehicleS, The
Glasgow public, it is added, is not easy to satisfy, because it has for many years been accustomed to "the finest transport service in the world."
It is hardly to be expected, continues the statement, that under present conditions the usual service can be maintained. A great deal of criticism has been made of what is now known as the " convoy system," and in reading some of the statements made it would appear that this was deliberately done, instead of being the result of existing conditions.
The frequency of street accidents during the black-out hours is one of the causes of the convoy system, says the statement. When an accident occurs the whole service on one route may be held up, and hours may elapse before drivers return to their normal schedules.
In addition, among the older bus drivers there are many men whose nerves are in such a state that they refuse to take risks, which is understandable when their line of vision is restricted to about 6 ft. At no time has the Transport department's sick list been so high as at present, as a result of the constant strain.