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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
THE LATEST NEWS OF IMPORTANT EVENTS
CONTRACT-CARRIAGE LAW CHANGES TO-MORROW.
'TO-MORROW (December 1), Sec tions 25 and 26 of the Road Traffic Mt, 1934, concerning contract carriages, will come into operation. This event is provided for by the Road Traffic Act, 1934 (Date of Commencement), Order (No. 3), 1934, dated November 14.
Section 25 defines the conditions under which vehicles conveying passengers at separate fares may be regarded as contract carriages. In this connection, the Minister of Transport has made the Public Service Vehicles (Contract Carriage Records) Regulations, 1934, which have already been outlined in The Commercial Motor. They deal with the work ticket to be carried by the driver and the record to be kept by the operator of a contract carriage. These regulations will come into force to-morrow.
Section 26 deals with the carriage of members of societies, clubs, etc., in public-service vehicles and defines the circumstances in which the members shall be deemed to be carried for hire or reward. The text of the clauses was first published in The Commercial Motor on May 4.
Section 30 of the Act will also come
into operation to-morrow. This revokes all special local provisions regarding property left in public
service vehicles. In this connection, the Minister has made the Public Service Vehicles (Lost Property) Regulations, 1934, which come into force tomorrow and will be applicable to all public-service vehicles, except those of the London Passenger Transport Board.
As already announced in The Commercial Motor, the Public Service Vehicles (Licences and Certificates) Regulations, 1934, will also be introduced on December 1.
Sections 32 (part), 39 and 40 (part) come into force on January 1 next and extend the periods for which drivers' and conductors' licences are valid.
DOVER TO NEGOTIATE FURTHER WITH EAST KENT CO.
FURTHER important developments in connection with the future of Dover's transport system took place at a recent meeting of the town council. As already reported in The Commercial Motor, Mr. A. C. Baker, Birmingham Corporation's transport manager, has been tailed in to advise.
The council decided that Mr. Baker B42 should be requested to negotiate further with the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., concerning the terms on which it would be prepared to run buses in place of the existing municipal tramways. If the company's final offer be regarded by the council as inadequate, the corporation will operate its own system of oil-engined buses, as outlined in Mr. Baker's report.
Application is to be made to the South-Eastern Traffic Commissioners for licences and for the same fare pro
tection as is now afforded the tramways undertaking.
Mr. Baker does not recommend the perpetuation of the tramways system and advises the corporation, if it should decide to operate its own buses, to buy oilers with all-metal bodies. He considers that the East Kent company's offer is unsatisfactory.
It is understood that the East Kent concern is prepared to pay the difference between the cost of reinstating the roads, after removing the tram track, and the amount realized by the council's assets, up to a maximum of £7,000. The corporation's assets are estimated at at least £4,500.
In connection with the division of net profit, the corporation will not be called upon to bear any loss, but the company is prepared to allow the municipality 30 per cent. (instead of 20 per cent., as originally suggested) of surplus profits. The proposed period of the agreement is 21 years. IMPORTANT NEW COASTAL SCHEME FOR INDEPENDENTS.
AN important development has been made by P.S.V. Operators, Ltd., 52, Bedford Row, London, W.C.1, which has, we understand, acquired the organization of the London Coach Owners Federation, Ltd. The valuable facilities formerly • available only to members of the latter organization will now be at the disposal of every operator-member of the P.S.V. concern.
The Federation had a comprehensive system of traffic regulation at coastal towns, including kiosks. and uniformed inspectors who were daily in touch with the London office of the Federation. A special department under the control of Mr. E. E. Hayes, who was secretary, has been set up, and, in addition to the coastal facilities offered, records of every licence granted by the Metropolitan and South-Eastern Traffic Commissioners have been kept. Thus, the concise history of any particular service is available.
This branch of the organization will be developed in order that records may be kept of licences granted in all areas affecting P.S.V. members. This new enterprise by the P.S.V. concern will provide independent operators with long-needed facilities in connection with single tickets from the coast and should do much to solve the important problem created by changes of dates of tickets and open-dated -tickets. Numerous other problems will also be smoothed out.
Parking fees can, if desired, be paid by P.S.V. Operators, Ltd., in lump sums to corporations with which arrangements are in existence.
MANY OBJECTIONS TO YORKSHIRE POOL SCHEME.
EEIGHT bus companies,. the plan of .1....-4which for co-ordinating their Yorkshire-Blackpool services was, some time ago, rejected by the Traffic Commissioners concerned, submitted another co-ordination plan for the same services to the Yorkshire Commissioners, at Bradford on Monday. There was much opposition to the proposals, at a hearing which lasted six hours, and the Commissioners reserved their decision.
The applicants were the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., Yorkshire (Woollen District) Electric Tramway s, Ltd., Hebble Motor Services, Ltd., Walker Taylor and Sons, Ltd., Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., Yorkshire Trac tion Co., Ltd., Wood Brothers (Black pool), Ltd., and W. Armitage and Sons, Ltd. It was stated that the revised pooling scheme now put foruard would save 122,000 miles a year, compared with 101,000 miles under the previous arrangement. Mr. W. R. Hargrave (for the applicants) said that in the present application precautions had been taken" to" maintain the facilities hitherto available but with more convenient and direct services. While Mr. Hargrave was referring to the " pooling " arrangement between the applicants the chairman of the Commissioners (Mr.
Joseph Farndale) remarked : "So far as the Commissioners are concerned, the whole of the services from Yorkshire will, in a sense, have to be pooled."
In evidence, Major F. J. Chapple, general. manager of the West York shire Road Car Co., Ltd., said that 10,000 miles would be saved on services to the. Blackpool illuminations.
Mr. A. Pell (Wakefield), for Bullock and Sons, Ltd., submitted that no saving in mileage would result from the scheme. In reply, Major Chapple went into detail to support his contention. In reply to representations on behalf of the L.M.S. and L.N.E. Railway companies, he said that the Blackpool ser vice Would not stand restricted dupli cation, hecause the demand for seats was always in excess of the supply. Mr.
A. Masser (for 19 objectors) feared that the scheme would crush out pioneers of local bus services. The railways submitted that if the pool was to he a true one it must include the other road interests and the railways.
The chairman said that the Scheme would be considered. in conjunction with the whole of the applications for services to Blackpool from this area. Individual applications were then made for the renewal of existing licences.
POOLE DETERMINED TO HAVE MOTORBUSES.
THE controversy concerning passenger transport in Poole was carried a step farther at a meeting of Poole Council, a few days ago. The negotiations sub-committee reported that, . in its opinion, motorbuses 'were best suited to the needs of the area. It was
recommended that the council should support a Bill proposed to be promoted in Parliament by Hauls and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., provided that the provisions of the Bill were satisfactory.
• Bournemouth Corporation is also to apply for a Provisional Order to gain power to operate trolleybuses into Poole.
It was mentioned that, under Bournemouth Corporation's offer to Poole, the latter authority was to pay 50 per cent, of the loss on any unremunerative subsidiary service. Eight such services were being run by the Hants and Dorset concern, which might withdraw them, placing the onus of their operation upon Bournemouth Corporation. Poole ,Council's portion of the loss • might amount to £6,500 per year.
It was stated that Bournemouth Corporation had considered the question of running motorbuses into Poole, but suggested that these should not be introduced unless the trolleybuses proved a failure. Since the Upper Parkstone route to Poole had been served by trolleybuses, as well as trams, traffic had increased by 21,000 passengers a week.
TILLING AWARDED £1,750,000.
ON Wednesday, the Arbitration Tribunal awarded Thomas Tilling, Ltd., £1,750,000 compensation for the transfer of its Metropolitan undertaking to London Transport. The company claimed over £3,000,060, whilst the 'Board offered a little more than £1,000,000. This award is only on the main claim and the Tribunal reserved its decision as to the severance and apportionate claim.
TROLLEYBUSES FOR HULL?
ON Monday, Hull Transport Committee decided that the general manager should report on the possibility of introducing trolleybuses.
BETTESHANGER APPLICATION REFUSED: STRONG CRITICISM.
ALTHOUGH the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners have refused
licences for the operation of buses by Betteshanger Miners Mutual Self-help Club, they do not necessarily agree that such co-operative schemes should be prohibited.
In their decision, the Commissioners state that, in November, 1933, they refused a licence for a new service to Betteshanger and decided that existing operators should have the opportunity, if required, of increasing their services. The facilities provided by these operators were, in some respects, unsatisfactory and, in several instances, the use of vehicles had to be prohibited. Prior to-the institution of pithead baths earlier this year, however, it was unreasonable to apply to these services standards of cleanliness and convenience of ordinary services.
The Commissioners do not take "the extreme view " that the provision of additional transport facilities' should necessarily be the monopoly of existing operators. They declare that the fares chgged by the club were uneconomic and caused other operators to reduce their fares, resulting in some of their vehicles being put out of action.
The club has, state the Commissioners, found it impossible to pay the hire-purchase instalments on its buses, and is negotiating a fresh agreement, under which the payments would seem to extend over a, period far beyond the estimated useful life of the vehicles themselves. Two sums—one of them substantial—are also owing to the vendor of the vehicles.
The position is, in the Commissioners' view, completely unsatisfactory, whilst the maintenance and overhaul arrangements seem to be inadequate. The scheme is " ill-considered" and "financially unsound" and the services have resulted in wasteful competition.
M.H.C.S.A. DEPUTATION TO M.O.T. ON COASTAL SERVICES?
FOR some time the Motor Hirers and. Coach Services Association and 14 operators have been pressing for the group hearing of cases raising the question of the issue of single and period-return tickets on seasonal express services from the coast. So far, no success has been achieved and, although the South Eastern Area is the only .primary area concerned, Mr. F. A. Walker, secretary of the M.H.C.S.A., estimates that £250-2300 has .been spent in endeavouring to obtain liberty in this small respect.
The Association recently requested the Minister of Transport to receive a deputation on the subject, and a day or two after despatching the letter an operator was summoned for non-payment of the cost of appeals (in the neighbourhood of £25) raising this issue. The Ministry, however, declined to take any part in the adjournment of the summons pending the reception of the deputation.
INJUNCTION AGAINST COUNCIL: CASE SETTLED.
AT Glamorgan Assizes, at Swansea, before Mr. Justice Swift, "settlement by agreement" between the parties was announced in the action in which a declaration and injunction permanently restraining Gellygaer Urban District Council from refusing them admission to its buses was sought by some employees of the Taff Merthyr colliery,
It was explained that the issue arose from some of the council's bus employees refusing the applicants admission to the buses on which they had been accustomed to travel to and from work. An industrial dispute had taken place, resulting in a strike at the colliery, and the plaintiffs, who continued working, were refused the use of the buses. An interim injunction against the council had been obtained in the High Court, but the council had now satisfactorily dealt with the matter.
So soon as the action of its employees was brought to notice, the council had issued a warning to them to carry out their duties properly.
The applicants' counsel said that in view of the council's notice to employees, there was no occasion to proceed with the case.
ROAD-TRANSPORT TO REPLACE TRAIN SERVICE.
9"HIS Great Southern Railways, Ire land, announce that from January I next the passenger train services on the three branch lines linking Cork with Coachford and Donoughmore, Westport with Achill, and Tralee with Fenit, will be discontinued. Road passenger services will be run in their stead. The goods service on the Cork, Coachforci and Donoughrnore branch line will also be discontinued from that date and a regular motor service inaugurated.
MORE ROAD-RAIL COMPETITION AHEAD.
I NCREASED competition between the Southern Railway Co. and road transport operators was foreshadowed at a sitting of the South-Eastern Traffic Commissioners, last week, when details of the railway company's electrification scheme were given. Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., sought an B44 increased service from Eastbourne to Bexhill.
For the krailway company it was stated that the electrification of the Eastbourne-Hastings line had reached an advanced stage and services would be run to time-table in July next. The existing number of trains on the route would be increased from 18 on weekdays and 8 on Sundays to 51 on weekdays and 36 on Sundays. About 800 passengers could be carried by an electric train.
The Commissioners decided that the evidence given by the Southdown concern appeared to justify an increase in the service, but they felt bound to heed the greatly improved facilities to be afforded by the railway company. A slightly increased service was granted to the Southdown concern.
UNREMUNERATIVE SERVICES: TRAFFIC RECEIPTS.
I NTERESTING figures concerning certain alleged unremunerative services of the Western National Omnibus Co., Ltd., were given at the recent sitting of the Western Traffic Commissioners. It was stated that during the past year, 130,000 miles had been covered on the Bridgwater-Minehead service, the income being slightly more than 6d. per mile. A return of only 4.12d. per mile was obtained from the Bridgwater-Stringston service, on which 42,000 miles were run.
The Taunton-Minehead service, involving the operation of 88,000 miles, brought in just over 7d. per mile and the Taunton-Monksilver service (35,000 miles) 4id. per mile.
BLACKPOOL SEEKS TROLLEYBUS POWERS.
BLACKPOOL Corporation decided, 1.-Plast Friday, to promote in the 193435 session of Parliament a Bill seeking power to run trolleybuses and to provide for the abandonment of the trams.
WESTERN NATIONAL RELEASES TWO SERVICES.
AN applicationhas been made to the Western Traffic Commissioners by Messrs. J. Potter and Sons, for permission to take over two services previously operated by the Western National Omnibus Co., Ltd.
HULL-NEWCASTLE SERVICE • DISPUTE CONTINUES.
AT a sitting of the Yorkshire Tsaffic Commissioners lastweek, Mr. G. Galley, of Newcastle, opposed an application by East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd., for the continuation, without modification, of its Hull-Newcastle service.
• Mr. F. G. Bibbings (for Mr. Galley), drew attention to what he contended were serious irregularities in this service. He alleged that, so far as faxes were concerned, East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd., had extended the service to 11 additional picking-up and setting-down points on the route. Mr. S. Wells, traffic manager for the applicant company, denied this. He said that the concern's fare table showed the stage points at which passengers could be picked up and set down, but it was not a condition of the licence that passengers could not be picked up at other parts of the route.
Mr. Wells agreed that his company was issuing through fares from Hull to Honasea, Withernsea and Driffield, which had been advertised since 1029, and to other places.
Mr. Bibbings: "Arc not all these points from which Mr. Galley has, in the past, derived a considerable amount of revenue and traffie?"
Mr. Wells: " I cannot say. It is quite possible. We are not now doing anything different from what we have been doing for the past three or four years."
Mr. Wells agreed that the minimum fare on express services was 1s., but did not agree that if it were proved that some of the company's throughfare bookings were less than Is. it was highly irregular. He stated that, in the Northern Area, these fares had been submitted to the Commissioners.
Dr. E. Jackson (for the applicant) said all the places mentioned were referred to as points where passengers would have to change vehicles to make connections, and the applicant company was not adding picking-up places to its licence.
Mr. Bibbings suggested that the practice he had referred to embraced a serious principle.
The chairman (Mr. J. Famdale) said the matter would be further considered before the Commissioners gave a decision. FURTHER LIMITS ON TOUR PICKING-UP POINTS?
EXTENDED tours were again the L.13uhject of comment by Mr. W. Chamberlain, chairman of the NorthWestern Traffic Commissioners, last week. Several applicants applied for permission to increase the number of originating or picking-up points on
such .tours. Mr. Chamberlain said that local operators were seriously affected when, at a holiday resort, persons making all-in tours were tied to one particular excursion service. The Commissioners would not allow this form of operation extensively to develop.
Reserving decision in connection with picking-up points, Mr. Chamberlain explained that freedom had been allowed in this connection, under the impression that the picking-up points were available for the public to join tours, but it appeared that these facilities were offered to the public only on special occasions to enable operators to make up a load.
Mr. Chamberlain thought that the Commissioners might eliminate them all and deal administratively with requirements for picking up passengers by giving special facilities where necessary.
WHY TRAINS ARE OVERCROWDED.
AN explanation of the over-crowding of trains to Yarmouth was given to the Eastern Traffic Commissioners, when a railway company was objecting to an application by a coac-li operator for excursions and tours. A railway representative stated that if passengers had reserved their seats, the difficulty would not have arisen.
The proportion of passengers who booked seats was not as high as the company would like—which is obvious, in view of the fact that a seat-reservation fee of is. is charged.
Coach operators might well make a strong point of their publicity of the fact that the price of a coach ticket includes the provision of a seat, without extra charge.
Yorkshire (West Riding) Electric Tramways Co., Ltd., proposes to erect offices and a bus garage at Wakefield, Yorkshire.
Cravens Railway Carriage and Wagon 1
Co., L de built the 37-seater body of this A E.C. Q-type bus supplied to Messrs Bevan and Barker, of Mansfield. .1. here is a sliding door on the near side behind the front axle, and only one step is required to the floor of the saloon. A dual Clayton
heater is provided. BIGGER DEMAND FOR COACH SERVICES.
THAT the passing of the trade depression is reflected in the increased demand for coach travel from the West Riding of Yorkshire to Scarborough was the submission. made to the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners a few days ago. The Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd., sought permission to increase the number of vehicles on ' its HuddersfieldBarnsley-Scarborough service during the summer.'
It was also stated that more people were commencing their holidays on Sundays and there was a consequent demand for increased services on those days. Evidence was given of the refusal of business by reason ot the alleged inadequate number of vehicles permitted. Similar applications were made in respect of Barnsley-Cleethorpes, and Sheffield-Scarborough services. The applications are to be further considered.