A GROWING YORKSHIRE BUS CENTRE.
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What Has Been Done to Provide Regular-service Connections Between Bradford and the Surrounding Districts.
MBE history of private motorbus undertakings in Bradford has been chequered, but, when the extent of the municipal tramway organization is considered, it is only natural that this should have been so. Tramway routes radiate from the centre of the city in all directions and link up with those of other municipalities, The rail• gauges in the surrounding districts vary considerably, however, and through running between Bradford and neighbouring centres is not pogsible. This has been a great bar to the full development of the tramway undertaking and has provided an opportunity for the motorbus.
The West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd., of Wakefield, contested the attitude taken up by the Bradford City Council. It appealed to the Ministry of Transport for liceniles to run through from Wakefield and had its appeal upheld, but had to go to the Court of -Appeal before Bradford would consent to grant licences at all. The company's action opened a new ehapter in the passenger transport history of the city. Other companies have entered the field and there are now many services operating from Bradford. Most of them have their main depots at places outside the
city, and, as a matter of fact, the only Bradford motorbus concern at present operating on a large scale is that of Blythe and Berwick, Ltd., an oldestablished transport company, which also hag haulage and motor coach branches.
The motorbus industry provides extensive employment, and yet, in the case of Bradford, there is only one large bus concern operating in the city itself. The other services provide work for men resident in such places as Batley, Wakefield, Halifax, Keighley and Leeds, and even as far away as Harrogate.
• Blythe and Berwick, Ltd., commenced its motorbus activities outside the city, operating from Shipley when it was unable to get licences in Bradford. From Shipley, the company ran services to Otley and Baildon, which were outside the scope of the tramway services. Later it commenced a crosscity service in Bradford, from Lister Park to Bankfoot, which crossed the radiating tramway routes. But the
corporation was -not long in organizing a competitive service with that in the city, taking up motorbus operation to do so' although the tramways department had pinned its adherence up to then upon • tramways and railless. vehicles.
The tactics pursued bt this department were such that they raised public protests from Blythe and Berwick, Ltd. which objected to the position in which it found itself, notably that the time-tables for the trams could be changed at a moment's notice, whilst private concerns had to give notice 10 the Aatch committee before altering their schedules.
The stand provided is in Victoria Square, but buses coming into Bradford cannot go directly to the stand. From whatever direction they come, they must follow a prescribed route, making a circle of the centre of the city. Although the trams pick up passengers at almost every standard, the motorbus stopping-places are few and far between, only half-a-dozen being provided on the Marminghara Lane route so far as it lies within the city.
There is a very fine set of motor omnibuses operating from Bradford and the fleets are kept up to date by the various owners. Blythe and Berwick. Ltd., has in use a number of Leyland Lions and some Daimlers of large capacity, running from Victoria Square to 'Ilkley, Shipley, Otley and Bandon. Another service runs to Lidget Green, which is inside the city, and Clayton, a township just 'outside, whilst the corporation runs a service of tramcars to Lidget Green and trolley-buses to Clayton.
The West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd., comes into Bradford with three services and uses Bristol and Leyland vehicles.
The Yorkshire Woollen District Tramways CO: connects up
ated Bradford, the heavy woollen dis any trict and the Span Valley, a
busy industrial district which Includes Dewsbury, Cleckheaton and Heelsmondwike. This company also has a connecting service, linking up a number of towns which would otherwise have no means of transport between them, commencing at Haworth and proceeding through Queensbury, HipperhoIme Wyke. Cleckheaton and Goinersal to Birstall. The company uses Dennis and Leyland vehicles.
The Harrogate Road Car Co., Ltd., runs two services from Harrogate, one via Yeadou Moor and the other via Shipley. Its standardized fleet of illseater Tilling-Stevens vehicles with forward driver's cabin is distinctive. Similar buses are used by the Premier Transport Co. (Keighley), Ltd., whicit has just been successful in obtaining licences for a service from Bingley and Keighley to connect with services going to Skipton, Silsden and Oakworth.
The Premier Transport Co., Ltd., appealed to the Ministry of Transport and received licences for a service which runs for almost its entire distance on the tram routes of the Bradfcird Cor poration. It offered protective fares, this offer being referred to by the Minister of Transport when he advised the Bradford authorities that they should grant the licences. The company had licences in Bradford for a service to Thornton and Denholme, ' which it secured when it bought out the originators of the service.
Bradford is situated at the junction of several valleys and the railways out of the city naturally run along the lowlying ground and, in consequence, unnecessarily long journeys have often to be made to places over the hills. Motor services following the roads have changed this state of affairs. Typical instances are provided by the Hedna services from Yeadon and Rodley. The former follows the route of the Harrogate Road Car Co., Ltd., but the one from Rodley runs over ground which has hitherto been difficult to reach. The same may be said of the services of the Yeadon Transport Co., which commenced services from Yeadon to Shipley when Bradford would not allow any licences for services into the city. The company now operates a service into Bradford from Yeadon,,via Shipley, using Guy and Daimler vehicles.
Messrs. Brigg's Services, with headquarters at Wilsden, has developed considerably from the short service from Wilsden to the Bradford tram terminus at Allerton and has an up-to-date fleet 'running from Victoria Square to Mierton, Wilsden and thence to Bingley. The Hebble services, owned by Messrs. 0. and C. Holdsworth, of Halifax, come into Bradford by two routes, using Leylands and low-loading .Albion, whilst Mr. S. Ledgard, of Armley, runs Leylauds on a half-hourly service to City Square, Leeds. The Blue Bus Service runs to Brighouse and Messrs. Edwin Box and Son runs motors through to Batley. The Calder Bus Services Co. has appealed to the Ministry of Transport for licences to run on the Brighouse rOute, but their decision has not yet been received. The Hobble Services rue to Brighouse.
Some time ago the Huddersfield Corporation sought to run a service from Huddersfield, through Brighouse, into Bradford. At the outset Bradford objected to the service being run farther than the tram terminus at Bailiff Bridge, but when Bradford eventually approved a through service the Ministry of Transport quashed the proposals. This route illustrates the lack of foresight of the originators of the tramway services in the West Riding, for, although the two termini are within a 'very short distance, it is impossible to link up and provide through running on account of the difference in gauge. Road transport provides a great advantage over the trams in this direction, and thia fact, coupled with more frequent and more direct services than the railways can provide, has given the motorbus companies a big pull with the public.
Recently there have been many changes in the vehicles used in Bradford, increases in size ,being a predominant feature. This has meant greater difficulty in manmuvring into position on the stand at Victoria Square. Blythe and Berwick, Ltd., employ an inspector here and, although his work is primarily in connection with the fleet owned by his employers, his presence is a great advantage to the public in giving information concerning the various services ; this is given readily even if it concerns the activities of other companies.