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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
THE LATEST NEWS OF IMPORTANT EVENTS
THE OPENING SESSION OF MOTOR HIRERS CONFERENCE.
QOME 400 delegates attended the first ...session at Blackpool on Wednesday last of the first National Conference of the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association. Mr. F. A. Flin and Mr. Aled E. Roberts, M.P., who were to submit a resolution calling for the setting up of an independent appeal tribunal, were unable to attend. Mr. S. D. Oddy, therefore, opened the discussion with a strong protest against railway interference with coach traffic. He declared that loose wording of Section 72 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, had given the railways an opportunity of persecuting road-transport concerns. He considered that railway representations should be confined to suggestions for the co-ordination of road interests.
Mr. J. J. Berry supported Mr. Oddy, and stated that objections between operators at public sittings gave the railways valuable information for gaining new traffic. The resolution, calling for the removal of the anomaly, was carried unanimously.
Mr. W. McKeag, M.P., in Mr. Roberts's absence, moved a resolution to demand the establishment of an appeal tribunal, and he declared that the Minister of Transport failed to maintain justice between parties to appeals. Mr. Bibbings seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously.
AGREEMENT IN GLOUCESTER BUS DISPUTE.
AST has been reached between the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., and Gloucester Corporation concerning competition between the corporation's and the company's buses operating from Gloucester, it was announced at a sitting, a few days ago, of the Western Traffic Commissioners. For some time there has been disagreement between the corporation and the company over the traffic rights of the city.
The company had opposed an application by the local authority for consent to run a bus service to Tuffiey, outside the city boundary. It was stated that the corporation would withdraw its application on the understanding that the company would not, at any future date, oppose any application made by the municipality to extend its services within the boundaries fixed by the corporation's Transport Act of 1928. provided that the fares charged by the corporation B44 and the company at the existing city boundary were the same.
The Commissioners allowed the application to be withdrawn.
IMPORTANT MERGER OF YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATIONS.
AS a result of recent negotiations, and following a meeting held last week, it is announced that a merger has taken place between the Yorkshire Stage Carriage Operators Association and the Yorkshire Coach and Transport Operators Association.
The amalgamated body is to be known as the Yorkshire Stage Carriage Operators Association, and will represent over 1,500 road-transport operators in Yorkshire.
The merger will give increased strength to both organizations, and Yorkshire operators will benefit.
COMMISSIONERS HEAR CASE FOR YORKSHIRE CO-ORDINATION.
THERE were only a few exceptions I on points of detail when important proposals for the co-ordination of bus services in the Pontefract district (referred to in our issue for last week), were submitted to the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners at Leeds on September 28. The Commissioners reserved their decision.
CONTINUED INCREASE IN I.F.S. INTERNAL BUS TRAFFIC.
AS compared with the figures for the corresponding month of last year, the Irish Free State bus statistics for August show a substantial increase in traffic on wholly internal services, but a falling-off in all cross-border traffic.
During August, this year, the gross receipts from internal passenger traffic amounted to £121,680 (£1,176 more than in August, 1933), in spite of the fact that the total number of vehiclemiles run was slightly less, being 2,725,000, as compared with 2,808,000. The total number of passengers carried on internal services was 8,165,000, against 7,648,000 in August, 1933.
The total number of passengers carried on cross-border services was 210,000 and the gross receipts £8,202 (237,000 passengers and £11,678 receipts a year ago). On these routes 155,000 vehicle-miles were run, a decrease of 67,000 on the previous year.
The vehicle-mileage worked on wholly internal services for the first eight months of this year shows a slight decrease on that of a year ago and the receipts a substantial increase, the figures being 20,115,000 vehicle-miles and £767,833 gross receipts, as 'canpared with 20,149,000 and £725,407 respectively last year. LONDON TRANSPORT TRIBUNAL SITTINGS RESUMED.
SITTINGS of the London Passenger Transport Tribunal were resumed on Monday last after the long vacation. It was the intention of the Tribunal to continue consideration of the claim by Thomas Tilling, Ltd., which was adjourned owing to the indisposition of a principal witness, but this case was further adjourned for a week.
LOWER FARES IN SCOTLAND.
IXEDUCTIONS in fares on the Inver'less-Fort Augustus bus route, a matter which has caused considerable interest in the north, were announced, at Inverness, on September 27, by the Northern Scotland Traffic Commissioners. The road was, as reported in last week's issue, officially opened by the Minister of Transport on that day.
Messrs. Macrae and Dick, David MacBrayne (1928), Ltd., and Messrs. Machityre and Sons agreed to the reductions, which came into force last Monday.
PRESTON BUSES SHOW GOOD PROFIT.
DURING the year ended March 31 1./last, a net profit of £8,295 was made on the buses of Preston Corporation as against a profit of £134 on the tramways system.
Bus receipts amounted to £64,476 and the tram receipts were £44,236. The buses carried 11,693,647 passengers as against 8,649,959 in the previous year, whilst the trams carried 7,529,507 passengers as against 9,940,127 a year earlier. Working expenses of the buses totalled £45,548 and of the trams 238.273.
L.N.E.R. ALLEGES UNDER. CUTTING BY BUS COMPANIES.
COMPLATNIS of repeated undercutting by bus companies were made on behalf of the London and NorthEastern Railway Co. at the sitting of the Northern Traffic Commissioners a few days. ago. The allegations were made as the result of an application by United Automobile Services, Ltd., for permission to reduce from 3s. to 2s. the fare on the Bishop AucklandSeaton Carew service on Sundays. The application was refused.
The railway company also objected to an application by West Hartlepool Corporation for sanction to reduce the return fare on a certain service from Is. 3d. to Is. 2d. This application was granted.
MUNICIPAL AND RAILWAY BUS OPERATIONS AT HALIFAX.
THE municipal bus services at Halifax are divided into two sections, one—the "A" services—being operated by the corporation, and the other— the "B" services—coming under the control of a joint committee composed of the corporation and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co.
In the year ended March 31, 1934, the "A" services were operated at a net profit of £17,333, and the "B " services at a net profit of £35,652. On the former, revenue totalled £74,396 and working expenses £49,273, the comparable returns for the latter being £92,472 and 256,820 respectively.
The fleet used for the "A" services comprises 35 vehicles and, in the period under review, they covered a total mileage of 1,188,337 and carried 8,109,766 passengers. The "B " services are maintained by 44 vehicles and, in the past year, they covered an aggregate mileage of 1,629,520 and carried 6,780,867. The route mileage served by the "A" services is approximately 44, and by the " B " services slightly in excess of 97.
SPEEDIER TRAVEL WANTED.
piETHER or not speedier bus VV travel should be allowed on the Aberdeen-Ellon-Fraserburgh route was a question that engaged the attention of the Northern Scotland Traffic Commissioners, at a sitting at Aberdeen, on September 28. Fraserburgh Town Council supported the application of Messrs. James Sutherland for a reduction of 9i minutes in the journey time. It was explained that the Fraserburgh authority approached the firm with the complaint that the journey was too long. The average speed was at present about 22 m.p.h. and the average speed would be increased to approximately 24 m.p.h.
Mr. H. Riches, chairman of the Commissioners, deaared that, considering the number of stops on the journey, it would be impossible for drivers not to exceed the speed limit. He ordered that a conference be held between the operators concerned, with a view to an agreement being reached. The Commissioners, he added, would willingly consider representations made to them. HAVE THE PUBLIC A RIGHT TO CHOOSE?
'WHETHER country people in the VV districts concerned should have the option of travelling by train or bus, was a point raised at a sitting of the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners last week. United Automobiles Services, Ltd., applied for a licence for a new stage service from Scarborough -to Ravenscar, and on behalf of the London and North-Eastern Railway Co., which objected, it was pointed out that there were railway stations at Hayburn, Wyke, Staintondale and Ravenscar, and regular services to Scarborough.
The U.A.S. representative said that some of the inhabitants of these villages had to walk a long way to a rail-. way station. The Commissioners re served their decision. Not long ago they refused a similar application made by the Ravenscar Bus Co., on the ground that, if such a service was to be started, the U.A.S. had the prior claim.
JOINT SERVICE 'VETOED.
THEproposed Pontypridd-Rhondda Valley through bus service of Pontypridd Urban District Council and Rhondda Transport Co., Ltd., to be worked under a reciprocal-runningrights arrangement, has had to be shelved, as Rhondda Urban District Council has refused to sanction the proposed agreement. Rhondda Council is able to veto the proposal by virtue of the lease of its running rights to the company.
TRANSPORT MANAGER'S ADVICE TO BUS DRIVERS.
A BOOKLET has recently been ti issued to Glasgow Corporation bus drivers by Mr. Lachland Mackinnon, the city transport manager. In it is contained much good advice on the many aspects of the drivers' work, and the writer particularly stresses the fact that the drivers' main consideration must always be the comfort and safety of the passengers. Smoothness in driving is important not only from the passenger's point of view but also in the reduction of maintenance costs, and much wear and tear is saved if rapid braking and acceleration are avoided.
Patience must be exercised by every driver, states the writer, especially when The bus is behind schedule. Time must not be made up by methods that will cause discomfort to the passengers.
SWANSEA CORPORATION TO OPERATE BUSES?
AMEETING took place recently beween officials of the Swansea Tramways Co., Ltd., and representatives of the Swansea Parliamentary Committee, to discuss the future of the tramways undertaking. It is believed that there is a possibility of the tramways being converted to bus operation, the lease from Swansea Corporation of the running rights to the company expiring in 1942. As a result of the discussions, it is thought that a Bill regarding the undertaking will be introduced by the company in Parliament.
"RAILWAY LOCUS STRETMED TOO FAR."—Mr. Chamberlain.
ASEVERE check to the railway companies was administered, a few days ago, by Mr. W. Chamberlain, Chairman of the North-Western Traffic Commissioners. The admonition was given as the result of objections by the railways to the granting of licences for long-distance coach tours.
The railway representative suggested that the Commissioners should set aside a special day for the discussion of policy with regard to such tours. Mr. Chamberlain expressed doubt as to whether the railways were entitled to object to the granting of licences for tours with which they had only recently entered into competition. He thought the railways were stretching their locus too far in objecting to extended tours, in the charges for which was included hotel accommodation.
The railway representative replied that, in the case before the court, objection was made only to future operations, and he prophesied a considerable eXtension of the "all-in" tours business.
Mr. Chamberlain retorted that the railways had inaugurated a comparable service only 18 months ago. He declared that if the Commissioners had control of railway long-distance tours there would be little chance of the railways obtaining licences for work which had long been performed by coach operators.
The railway representative was able to make. no adequate reply.
SUNDAY TOURS IN SCOTLAND: OPPOSITION CONTINUES.
AS a result of representations by the North of Scotland branch of the Lord's Day Observance Association, Sir Murdoch Macdonald, M.P., is to place before the Minister of Transport and the Secretary of State for Scotland the Association's case against the licensing of coach and bus tours on Sundays. The Traffic Commissioners are alleged to have " flouted " the public wishes by licensing such ser
SPECIAL SITTING FOR BLACKPOOL PROMENADE TOURS.
I T is Understood that, on October 11-12, the North-Western Traffic Commissioners will consider the question of coach operation on Blackpool promenade. The matter arose at a sitting of the Commissioners last week, and Mr. A. Christy, the well-known Bolton coach owner, stated that the corporation was taking business away from the proprietors of the pleasure park, who were big ratepayers, by seeking to deny them the right to have customers set down at their premises.
The police contention was that A climax had been reached in the congestion on the promenade, and they ob 06 lee ted to the use of the promenade by any public-service vehicle other than corporation buses. At present, it is stated; the Blackpool coach operators and corporation are the only undertakings licensed to run tours on the promenade. Animated proceedings are expected at the sitting on October 11-12.
At a meeting, last Friday, Blackpool Town Council defeated a reconunendation of the transport committee that all applications for permission to operate on the promenade should be opposed.
COMBINED ROAD AND RAIL SEASON TICKETS.
-A N interesting application is to be C./heard by the South Wales Traffic Commissioners at the• County Police
Court, Neath, on October 11. The Western Welsh Omnibus Co., Ltd., will seek permission to introduce combined road and rail season-ticket rates on two stage-carriage services, one from Aber dare to Neath and the other from Neath to Merthyr Tydfil.
In the first case, the Imperial Motor Co. will object, whilst in the second application that concern will be joined by Red and White Services, Ltd. It is understood that considerable opposition from other independent interests may be expected.
L.M.S. ROAD SERVICE LICENSED.
THE London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co. has been granted a licence to provide the ground-transport facilities in connection with Manchester Airport, at Barton. During the first week, three passengers were carried in the outward direction, and the maximum number was eight in a week. It was stated that the L.M.S. was interested in the new air service from London to Manchester and Glasgow.
FINE SAFETY RECORD.
HAVING completed over 75,000,000 passenger-miles, Doncaster Corporation's trolleybus system has experienced its first aceident involving ,injuzy4o.a passenger, although the in jnri:e.:was only slight ;The trottqbtiNee, We. now 'been running for a Period of six years.
PARK ROYAL BODIES FOR 12 NEW TROLLEYBUSES.
TIVELVE double-deck bodies are at present being mounted upon Karrier trolleybus chassis, to the order of Huddersfield Corporation, at the works of Park Royal Coachworks, Ltd., Abbey Road, London, N,W.10. The vehicles are well-proportioned 64-seater six-wheelers, in which Accles and Pollock tubular seats are employed, those on the lower deck being upholstered with moquette and leather facings, whilst in the upper saloon the seats are leather-covered. Latex fillings are used throughout.
Four Super Ashanco ventilators are mounted on the roof, whilst further ventilators are provided at the sides of the lower saloon. In addition, there are three Widney-Stuart Aero-type halfdrop windows on each side in both the saloons, one also being fitted at the front of the upper deck. Destination and route indicators, made by the Equipment and Engineering Co., Ltd., are mounted at the front, on the near side and at the rear. The polished woodwork is carried out in mahogany.
LONDON TRANSPORT STATION: CALL FOR INQUIRY.
THE proposal of London Transport to convert St. Peter's Estate House, St. Albans, into a bus station and garage has met with considerable opposition, and the city council has been censured for not upholding its published town-planning scheme in connection with the site. A public protest meeting, held a few days ago, unanimously agreed that the Minister of Health should be asked to hold an inquiry into the matter.
MORECAMBE CO-ORDINATION HOPE.
.AT a sitting, last week, Mr. W.
Chamberlain, chairman of the North-Western Traffic Commissioners, expressed the hope that Morecambe Corporation and the local coach operators would, arrange a scheme of coordination to deal with peak traffic. ,The ,proposal was stated to be agri:eable to the members of Morecambe and District Motor Coach Proprietors Association.