Operating Aspects of Passenger Transport GLASGOW'S TRANSPORT STILL UNDER FIRE
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CURTHER criticism of Glasgow Cori poration's bus and tram services was yoked a few days ago, when a deputation from the Transport and General Workers Union was received by the corporation transport committee. The deputation expressed the view that the municipal transport services have been so severely cut down by the managemeta, particularly on Saturday afternoons and evenings, that they are completely inadequate for the traffie and, as a result, great inconvenience is being caused to the public.
The deputation also criticized what was said to be a new attitude on the part of the management in declining to discuss with the men's representatives time-table adjustments to provide a more adequate service.
The committee proceeded to discuss the complaints, and Bailie David S. Brown, the convener, and the subconvener, both members of the Socialist Party, said that thy wished to refer the whole matter to the management to deal with, but the Progressive members of the committee contended that some direction should be given by the committee.
It was, accordingly, agreed to adjourn consideration of the representations until the next meeting, and meanwhile to call for a report from the transport manager on the questions raised.
LONDON BUSMEN AIR GRIEVANCES MEGOTIATIONS between London 11Transport and the Transport and General Workers Union recently took place upon questions arising out of grievances of London Central busmen over schedules of working in summertime and the allocation of duties. Certain matters involving detailed examination are being considered and it is hoped to reach a conclusion during the first week in April.
BUSES PROMOTE TRAVEL AT BOLTON
DEALING with war-time difficulties at a meeting of Bolton Trades and Labour Council, Alderman Bradley, chairman of the corporation transport committee, said that the most severe difficulty of transport boards had been the drastic reduction in fuel supplies, despite much heavier loading. There had been conferences with employees to meet the situation, but even so it was not possible to compile duty schedules averaging 48 hours per week.
Under present conditions it was not possible to carry all would-be passengers. The closing of amusement houses at different times was an advantage to transport operations and it would be beneficial if the opening and closing of industrial premises could be " staggered." Without it there was a tendency for intense concentrations for short periods.
The alderman revealed that the department was carrying 2,000,000 mo:e passengers on Dunscar bus route than it did when trams operated the service.
COUNCIL CHANGES MIND ON DOUBLE-DECKERS
PERMISSION has been granted to W. Alexander and Sons, Ltd., to operate double-deck buses on the Perth-Dundee route, during the period of the war. The object of the arrangement is to avoid duplication of the buses at peak periods and to conserve fuel. The county council had previously held the view that it was undesirable, in the interests of safety, to use double-deckers on this road.
LONDON TRANSPORT'S CENTRAL LONDON GARAGE
THE first combined London Transport bus and coach garage in inner London was opened in Gillingham Street, near Victoria Station, in time for the Easter holidays.
On the ground floor about 100 buses used on in-town routes will be garaged, washed and kept in running order and buses not needed in the streets during the middle of the day will be parked there to save fuel. In normal times, 70 coaches used for private hire will be kept in the basement, thus saving fuel in bringing coaches from more distant garages.
COMMISSIONER FAVOURS CO-ORDINATION AT CHESTER THE North-Western Regional Trans' port Commissioner has informed Chester transport committee that he is not satisfied that there are any insurmountable difficulties in relation to the proposal to co-ordinate the municipal services with those of Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., on inward journeys to Chester. He expresses the opinion that a scheme of co-ordination would be preferable to the granting of war-time permits to enable the Crosville concern to vary its services.
Chester Corporation is now asking the Commissioner to receive a deputation to discuss the matter.
HULL FACING /50,000 DEFICIT I N view of an estimated deficit of nearly £50,000 on the working of Hull Passenger Transport Department, in the financial year ending March 31, a revision of fares was approved by the transport committee last week, subject to the approval of the Regional Transport Commissioner and a local joint co-ordination committee for road passenger services. Another measure decided upon is the introduction of bus feeder services from outer areas to connect with tram and trolleybus services, so as to obviate the running of petrol vehicles side by side with trolleybuses or trams.
BLACK-OUT FIRSTSAFETY LAST PUBUC safety prompted two bus drivers in Salford to flick on their spotlights momentarily in the black-out early one morning. Police saw them and, last week, the Salford stipendiary magistrate, in fining the drivers 5s. each, warned them that if the practice continued fines would be greatly increased. One of the drivers said he flashed his light because he feared a man on the footpath would dash across the road.
ACCRINGTON "SITTING PRETTY"
CAPITAL expenditure at Accrington during the past municipal year included £4,183 by the transport department in respect of buses. The credit balance on the transport account is now £36,912. The transport accounts show a net gain on the year of £7,764; gross revenue was £77,082 and gross expenditure £63,770.
The healthy state of the undertaking is indicated by the fact that there was no capital liability at the end of the year.
LYTHAM'S HOPES FROM ITS TRANSPORT UNDERTAKING
REPORTING a loss of £1,004 on Lytham St. Annes transport department during the past municipal year, Alderman S. Smith (finance chairman) stated a few days ago that since the transport undertaking was acquired it had lost £80,159. Payments had been made in reduction of the deficit, which still stood at £11,384. They were again allocating £1,000 under that heading for the forthcoming year. They were hopeful that, when some of the capital duty on the undertaking had been paid off, it would be in a better position.
BLACKPOOL'S CONTRACT-TICKET SCHEME OPPOSED
BLACKPOOL'S proposal to stop issuing contract tickets on its buses was the subject of criticism at a meeting of Poulton-le-Fylde Urban Council, last week. The corporation runs a frequent service of buses 1.o and through Poulton, the only other company operating in the district being the Ribble concern.
Councillor S. Hanham told members that it was not within the power of Blackpool Corporation to discontinue the contracts when it wished, and that fact should be widely known. Suspension of the contracts, he said, would mean a great hardship on residents in the district who travelled twice daily to Blackpool for their work. " We must not lose sight of the fact, however," he said, "that it is still only a proposal. When the matter is before the Traffic Commissioners I hope we shall offer strong opposition."