Ferodo Bus Station with Five Platforms Deals with 24 Vehicles
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at a Time : North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., Supply the Buses
1,100 Workers Cleared in 10 Minutes
ANEW bus station covering over 4,000 sq. yd. has been built at the Chapel-en-le-Frith works of Ferodo, Ltd. Platforms occupy 700 sq. yd. and roadways 3,350 sq. yd. Five platforms accommodate two, four, five, six and seven vehicles respectively and there is a tubular queue barrier for each stand.
Although in use for only about 90 minutes a day, the facilities are regarded as fully justified, because they ensure regularity of loading and unloading which, in the end, is not without its effect on the overall day of the employees.
The present bus statiott is the successor to a smaller and less convenient area which was brought into use in 1937, when kerbs, barriers and destination boards were provided. Many years ago the growth of activity at the Ferodo factory necessitated the tapping of pools of labour outside the immediate vicinity of Chapel-en-leFrith and in 1931 special works buses were arranged, because the ordinary services were becoming oyercrowded.
The demand has steadily increased and 40 special buses now arrive at the Ferodo station every day and 58 depart with passengers. The peak period is in the evening, when normally 25 buses are in use and two dozen of these stand alongside the platforms at one time. Shifts are from 6 a.m.-2 p.m., 2 p.m.10 p.m., 10 p.m.-6 a.m. and 10 p.m.7.15 a.m. Day work starts in the factory at 7.45 a.m. and in the office at 8.45 a.m. Both factory and office workers finish day duties at 5.30 p.m.,
which is the reason for the exceptionally heavy evening peak traffic period.
The first buses on this turn depart at 5.35 p.m. and the last of 24 vehicles is dispatched five minutes later. One proceeds to Chinley station, turns round and calls again at the bus park at 5.48 p.m. for late finishers for Buxton.
Thus, about 1,100 people are away from the bus park within 10 minutes of the hooter being sounded. The longest journey at this time is to Stockport, 16 miles distant,' and workers on the second of the two buses for this destination can rely on reaching the setting-down point in their own town at 6.35 p.m.
The route carrying the largest number of passengers is to Buxton, six miles distant, the average number being 683.
Theie are also services to Harpur Hill, Burbage and Fairfield, just on the other side of that town. Approximately 200 are carried between the Ferodo works and Whaley Bridge, about four miles distant, an average of 179 from the works to New
Mills and Low Leighton, and 107 to Hayfield. The vehicles are drawn from the depots of the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., at Stockport and Buxton, and
• the greatest number in use is during the morning spread-over, when 28 are ' required. The first shift buses to the works leave New Mills at 5,20 a.m., running via Whaley Bridge and arriving at
5.50 a.m.; there is a similar journey via Hayfield. Two buses leave Buxton at 5.25 a.m., also arriving at 5.50 a.m. First departures in order to synchronize with the 7.45 a.m. start at the factory are at 6.32 a.m. from Stockport, arriving at 7.30 a.m.
Then comes the 6.55 a.m. bus from Low Leighton, working via Whaley Bridge and arriving at 7.25 a.m. The 6.57 a.m. departure from New Mills, also via Whaley Bridge, arrives at the works at 7.25 a.m., and from Low Leighton there are two 6.55 a.m. runs via Hayfield, both arriving at 7.30 a.m. Next comes the Buxworth, Chinley and Dove Holes service at 7.5 a.m., arriving at 7.25 a.m. The concluding services in this group are the 7.12 a.m. and 7.19 a.m., which work from Whaley Bridge to Buxton. via Ferodo. Many intermediate passengers are picked up by the 7.32 a.m. Stockport
Buxton bus, which also works via the Ferodo station, stopping there at 8.30 a.m. Various runs start from Buxton and the surrounding districts between 6.55 a.m, and 7.5 a.m., arriving between 7.25 a.m. and 7.35 a.m.
It is possible to employ some of the early-morning vehicles to collect local employees making an 8.45 a.m. start. There is a direct journey from Stockport at 7.32 a.m., as well as a 7.32 a.m. Stockport-Buxton run which works via Ferodo.
The 7.58 a.m. service operates from Disley to Buxton. via Ferodo, as do the 8.10 a.m. runs from Buxton to Manchester and Stockport. Direct services are also arranged for office staff from Low Leighton via Hayfield, from New Mills via Whaley Bridge. from Buxton. Chinley Station and Burbage. There are three journeys in time for the 2 p.m. shift, two from Buxton and
one from New Mills, via Whaley Bridge. For the 10 p.m. shift there are buses from New Mills, via Whley Bridge and Hayfield, and from Buxton direct.
There are, of course, corresponding return services with the 25 buses leaving between 5.35 p.m. and 5.48 p.m., four from 6.5 a.m. to 6.10 a.m., four between 1.40 p.m. and 2.10 p.m. and four between 10,5 p.m. and 10.10 p.m.
The new station forms the main frontage of the Ferodo estate on to the Hayfield road. The immediate background is formed by the dining hall with terrace gardens on one side.
Dispatches from the station are supervised by a North Western inspector and where need is evident for additional buses or for the opening of new routes, the arrangements are formulated by the company's personnel division.