81-seaters Keep Down Fares
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A N order for Leyland Royal Tiger
Worldmaster underfloor engined single-deck buses has been placed by the Public Utility Transport Corporation, Johannesburg, who, it is claimed, operate the largest fleet of oil-engined single-deckers in South Africa.
Low operating costs in order to maintain low fares are probably more important to P.U.T. than to most operators. When, in 1948, the corporation was forced to inerease fares, their buses were stoned by natives. Services were boycotted by a complete township of 20,000 natives, whose only alternative was to walk nearly 10 _miles to work.
To enable their fares to be kept low, P.U.T. introduced Royal Tiger 81-seat buses on non-European services, which are subsidized by the Government. A 7d. rate on a *mile route, for example, includes a subsidy of 3d.
The corporation's fleet of nearly 300 vehicles, which also includes a number of Leyland Tigers, carries more than 6m. passengers a month. At peak periods, 5,000 passengers an hour are picked up at two termini.
There are no garages for the buses, which are painted with chrome-oxide green to withstand the effect of sun.