G.N.R. Take-over Caused U.T.A. Loss
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I F the Ulster Transport Authority had not had to take over the Northern Ireland section of the Great Northern Railway, they would have made a £137,956 profit in the year ended September 30, 1959, instead of losing £384,403.
The transfer added £312,000 to U.T.A. loan charges, and the Authority make it clear in their annual report that the sum is an encumbrance which is completely unrelated to any revenue-earning potentiality.
Passenger traffic last year was only 1 per cent, higher than in the previous 12 months in spite of the good summer. The
nuirnbet of double-deckers in service rose by 30 to 288, but that of single-deckers fell by 51 to 673. Twenty-six singledeckers were rebuilt as 60-seat doubledeckers.
Mileage covered by U.T.A. goods vehicles rose by 1.3m. to 13.5m., and tonnage carried by 441,648 to 1.8m. Carrying of animals, however, dropped by 30,599 to 902,215.
Traffic on the ferry services to Great Britain advanced again last year. in 1957-58 the Authority handled 17,016 trailers and 13,007 containers at Larne and Belfast. Last year's figures were 19,928 and 16,497 respectively,