LATEST SUMMARY OF GREEN LINE ACTIVITIES
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QUESTIONS are being asked as to the volume of business which is handled by the coaching concerns operating on routes connecting London with nearby towns, particularly on services run by Green Line Coaches, Ltd.
A map of Green Line services appeared on page 832 of our issue dated January 27th, an some interesting B38 figures were given in our issues dated March 10th and August 4th, the company's Southern Area appeals being dealt with on August 11th.
When Green Line Coaches, Ltd., was formed by the Loudon General Omnibus Co., Ltd., in July, 1930, to take over services hitherto run by the parent company, as well as by the East Surrey Traction Co., Ltd., and Autocar Services, Ltd., in all eight services were operated and t36 vehicles were in regular daily use. At the present time the corn pony is working a fleet of 275 coaches, not to mention 50 extra vehicles which are employed on private-hire work. In addition to these, the East Surrey and Autocar concerns, which work in association, operate quite a number of private-hire coaches under the Green Line name.
There are 27 Green Line routes and the operation area stretches from Efitchin to Crawley and Tunbridge Wells and from Brentwood to Maidenhead. Six of the services are linked to operate through London from one side to the other ; for example, one route connects Ascot, in Berkshire, with Dartford, in Kent.
The maximum number of coaches operating on any one service is at present 25, and over 300,000 passengers are being carried weekly on the Green Line. The service interval varies from seven minutes in one case to two hours in another, hut for the most part the frequency is about 30 minutes. To meet traffic requirements duplicate coaches are run so far as possible, and all the routes operate daily, a skeleton service
being maintained, even on Chriatnias Day. Inter-availability between coach services and the Underground railways exists in the case of 15 routes, and some 42 Underground stations in the central area are covered by this scheme.
As announced at the time, a new facility was introduced in June, enabling passengers taking return tickets outwards from London to return to London by any other Green Line route on which the return fare was no greater. This arrangement has proved popular with walkers.