PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
Page 58
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
NEWCASTLE'S LATEST BUS PROPOSALS.
Municipal Authorities Seeking Further Powers to Supplement I the Activities of Their Present Successful Fleet. The
T"proposal of the Newcastle Corporation Transport Department to seek Parliamentary powers for extensive additions to its existing motorbus system is creating much interest in north-country passenger transport circles, first, because of the important suggestion that sanction should be sought to substitute buses for trams over any route in the city and, secondly, because other projects bring into the limelight again certain transport questions which have formed the subject of Ministry of Transport inquiries in that city.
Not the least interesting of the preliminary steps taken by the transport department in order to support its recommendations to the city council is the publication of an exhaustive report, which gives for the first time separate figures dealing with the operation of the municipal bus fleet. Prior to the beginning of the past financiul half-year, which concluded on September 30th last, the authority rendered its returns of bus and tram results in a combined form and this made it impossible to ascertain the actual outcome of the corporation's bus activities. The latest figures reveal an extremely satisfactory state of affairs, for, after meeting all operation and standing charges, there is a net balance, or prdfit, of £5,552 on the six months' working of the fleet of 57 vehicles. Thus proving the advantage of separating the two accounts.
During the period the total traffic receipts amounted to £45,419 and work
ing expenses aggregated £34,061, thus leaving a gross surplus of £11,352, which, less a deduction of 0,800 for interest and redemption of loans, leaves the profit mentioned above.
These figures were prepared for submission to a special meeting of the corporation, called to discuss the proposals of the transport committee. Briefly, the object of the proposed new Bill is to : (1) enable the corporation to operate omnibuses within a distance of 21 miles of the city boundary, in the countyof Northumberland, subject to the consent of the local and road authorities; (2) to enable the corporation to replace services of buses for trams on any tram route ; (3). to authorize the corporation to let buses on hire for private parties travelling from and to the city; (4) to enable the corporation ta operate buses in Northumberland on the following specific routes :—(a) To Tynemouth by the New Coast Road ; (b) from the terminus of the existing authorized bus route at Heddon-on-the-Wall. to Hexham, via Horsley, Corbrido and Dueton; (c) from the terminus of the existing authorized bus route at Branch End to Hextiam, via Riding Mill and Dilston; (d) from the terininus of the existing authorized bus route at Ponteland to Belsay. The last three routes, it may be remembered, were previously operated by the municipality until a few months ago, when, following an inquiry, the Ministry of Transport ordered their discontinuance.