AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

"Poor Deal" for Short-distance Passenger: Traffic Up 90 Per Cent

25th November 1949
Page 31
Page 31, 25th November 1949 — "Poor Deal" for Short-distance Passenger: Traffic Up 90 Per Cent
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

A SUGGESTION that the short-distance passenger was being penalized in favour of the person covering longer distances was made by Sir Joseph Nall, speaking at the annual luncheon of the Public Transport Association, in London, last week.

The Minister of Transport, Mr. A. Barnes, paid a striking tribute to coach and bus operators for dealing with a 90-per-cent. increase in traffic and to manufacturers for producing Vehicles with longer life.

Mr. Barnes said that transport was a function which must operate effectively under all conditions and in all circumstances. The British Transport Commission, its Executives, the municipalities and the independent operators (with a passing amount of freedom) played their parts well.

He had to pay attention to the impact of road on rail. Road transport had made amazing progress and had not reached the limit of its possibilities. Between 1938 and 1949 there had been an increase in public service vehicles of 40 per cent.-49,500 to 69,000. In the past three years the annual rise in the number of such vehicles was between 5,000 and 6,000.

More Miles and Passengers This was not unsatisfactory, considering the needs of the export market; also, on the average, each vehicle was covering a greater mileage than before the war. Passenger journeys had risen in 10 years from'4,500 million to 8,500 million, or by 90 per cent. Public service vehicles were running 9,000,000 miles more per week than in pre-war days, but modern types were better made and lasted longer.

In getting this result, the industry had made a great contribution to the country at a difficult time. Production in transport could not be measured as in the case of a factory, but, on the whole, those who had managed the business had been giving good service.

Reduction in the supply of vehicles to the borne market would be carried as far as possible, whether this wai right; wrong or desirable. It was necessary not only to sell in the dollar market, but to maintain our hold on our present sterling markets.

Revise Regulations Sir Joseph Nall, D.S.O., DL., said that this was one of those happy but rare occasions when those present could ignore party politics and join in the coMmon cause of a public service. He hoped that the Ministry would find it possible to revise and consolidate the various regulations relating to public service vehicles. There was also need to modernize such things as the permitted Width, length and weight of ordinary buses.

Now the more spacious tram had largely been replace, it seemed foolish t6 adhere -to dimensions Which cramp standardization as between home and export markets, and condemned the tourist in a British coach to less space than was enjoyed by foreign vehicles brought over here on tours. It also could not be an the interests of national economy that, merely to make a bus 30 ft. long, it should be forced to have a third axle and two more. wheels.

As Lord Latham had pointed out, public passenger transport in the United Kingdom was an essential positive service in default of other means, whereas in many cities in America 40-60 per cent. of the people travelled to work by private car.

Sir Joseph suggested that the extent to which British industry expanded would depend upon whether or not the B.T.C. decided to bring the suburban and inter-urban services of British Railways back into the category of essential positive services, a position from which the railways had been driven, and sometimes had voluntarily retreated, in the past 25 years.

Local Travellers Suffer A large proportion of traffic still consisted of short-stage passengers, but in many cases they were spread over a wider area, and with the growth of longer-distance traffic, the short-stage traveller was too often receiving a poor deal. This was particularly noticeable in parts of London and the larger provincial cities.

It would he necessary to cater separately for the short-stage people if road vehicles were also to be the essential service for a growing volume of long-distance traffic.

Was it was not true to say, .he asked, that the Green Line and limited-stop services had been instituted to take up the load of a languishing railway system and to relieve the pressure on the slower stage-carriage buses operating over ever-lengthening routes? It might be that increasing rates would kill the penny fare, but short-stage passengers would demand a reasonably frequent and adequate service with ,a restoration of more numerous stopping places. eve if they have to pay 2d. for short lifts.

Mr. 0. F. Sinclair, C.B.E.. chairman of the Association, presided at the luncheon.

ITALY TO BUILD STACATRUCS QTACATRUC fork-lift trucks and Stacashovels are to be manufactured under licence by Motomeccanica Sac. p. Ay:, Milan. This company is one of a group that includes Ansaldo Shipbuilders and Alfa Romeo Auto-...

mobiles. It is stated that the Motoineccanica concern made considerable investigations into comparable British and U.S.' products before deciding •upon Staeatrues.

• Initial production in Italy will he of the order of £250,000. Italian engines will be fitted, but Lockheed hydraulic equipment, also manufactured under licence, will be incorporated.

R.H.E. to Share Christmas Traffic

'THE'THE Postmaster General, Mr. Paling, stated in the House of Commons last week that a proportion of hirings by local postal authorities for extra Christmas transport would be placed' with the Road Haulage Executive. There was no intention of excluding other hauliers, who would obtain "a fair share" of G.P.O.' work.

Mr. Peter Thorneycroft contended that Mr. Paling's directive to local post offices to give a certain amount of work to the R.H.E. was a • "monstrous arrangement" in the light of the Government's undertaking not to squeeze out short-distance hauliers.

Mr. Paling replied that the R.FLE. was entitled to some consideration mt short-distance traffic, as it' had acquired facilities for doing such work. Local' hauliers had opportunities to obtain traffic, and the Share of work largely depended on lowest tenders.

Higher rates are to be charged by Bristol hauliers to the Post Office for Christmas hire of vehicles this year.

The Road Haulage AssociatiOn has agreed' with the authorities that the following charges be 'made, the minimum period of hire tci be 51hours daily: 30-cwt. vehicles up to 400 cubic ft. capacity, 7s. 9d. per hour; all heavier vehicles, 9s. 9d. per hour.

BRISTOL INDUSTRIES PRICE NOT SETTLED

NO final ascertainment of the price to be paid by the British Transport Commission for the road-haulage interests of Bristol industries, Ltd., has yet been reached. Under an agreement between the company and the Commission, the company's haulage concerns have been vested in the Commission as from April 1 last. The final price is expected to be much in excess of the written-down value of the company's shares and assets.

A capital bonus of £340,000 in cash is to be paid to ordinary shareholders. An interim dividend of 5s. per ordinary 55, share is to be paid.

The company also• proposes to increase its authorized capital by £50,000. For this purpose, 200,000 ordinary shares of 5s. each will be created and 170,000 of them will be issued as bonus shares.


comments powered by Disqus