Operating Aspects of
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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
WINTER FARES: COMMISSIONERS TO HOLD INQUIRY.
WE understand that, as a result of
the recommendation of the Central Fares Committee that winter fares should come into force on August 28, the Metropolitan and South-Eastern Commissioners are shortly to hold a public inquiry, in response to many applications for variations of conditions to accommodate the new charges.
The date for the introduction of winter fares was agreed by Regional Committees Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, No. 4 having no seasonal variations, and, therefore, not being concerned.
MUNICIPAL BUS RETURNS AT GLASGOW.
THE report of the transport committee
of Glasgow Corporation for the year ended May 31, 1933, shows that the total income of the bus section amounted to £561,664, whilst working expenses totalled 1517,928. The balance of 143,736 is carried to the net revenue account, where it is increased to £51,667 by interest on investments.
From this sum has to be deducted depreciation (£100,877). interest (122,707) and sinking fund (115,925), so that the net deficit on the year's working is 187,842, as compared with a net deficit of /41,525 a year earlier. The rates of depreciation are reckoned on the basis of 17-i per cent. for buses and 10 per cent, for plant.
At the end of May last the corporation owned 332 buses, the majority of them being Leyland double-deckers. The vehicles operate over a street mileage of 118.52 and a route mileage of 154.80. During the past year the aggregate mileage covered was 11,470,256 and the vehicles carried 66,912,020 passengers. Although the mileage was slightly higher, the number of passenbets carried fell by over 15,000,000.
The number of buses in use per day (121 hours per day) averaged 214, the miles per day per bus being 146.93.
At the end of the past municipal year the capital expenditure on the bus system amounted to 1796,351.
EASTBOURNE'S PROFIT LOWER.
A_ REDUCTION in the net profit on
Eastbourne Corporation's bus undertaking is shown in the annual accounts, the figure for last year being £945, as compared with £4,564 in the previous year. The gross revenue stood at 178,553, a decrease of 12,014 on the result for the previous year.
The buses, of which there are 56, mostly of Leyland make, covered a mileage of 1,287,211, being 40,546 more than a year earlier. The cost per busmile was 8.95d. (8.55d. in 1931-32), the maintenance charge per vehicle-mile being 1.88d. (a reduction of .19d.).
SOUTHERN AREA TO GO: MINISTER'S ORDER, TEM Minister of Transport has made
the Road Traffic Act, 1930 (Variations of Traffic Areas) Order, 1933, in conjunction with the impending raerging of the Southern Traffic Area with other areas.
The Order will come into force on January 1 next, or shortly after that date. The alterations to be made in the South-Eastern, Western and East Midland areas, as the result of the reduction of the number of traffic areas, were outlined in our issue dated July 14.
BROADCAST PUBLICITY FOR BUS COMPANY.
A COMPLETE tour of the Scottish routes traversed by the buses of W. Alexander and SODS, Ltd., has recently been completed by a Leyland vehicle specially equipped by Brown and Co. (Simplex), Ltd., Glasgow, to undertake publicity broadcasts. The loud-speakers are mounted on the roof, whilst the apparatus includes two Mareoniphone 20-watt amplifiers. The body was designed on the lines of an ordinary coach.
Concerts of gramophone records are given, as well as advertising announcements. The tour is reported to have been highly successful. SEVERAL RECORDS BROKEN DURING THE HOLIDAY.
TRADE depression, according to opinion in some well-informed quarters, bad its effect upon the August holiday coaching traffic, last week-end, although, generally speaking, the re
sults were extremely good. The important London coaching stations were fully occupied, and we are told that London Coastal Coaches, Ltd., Victoria, 8.W.1, broke its previous traffic records. Nevertheless, it is considered that this year's figures are no criterion of future business.
The Central London Road Transport Station, at Euston, N.W.1, which eaters mainly for passengers to the midlands and the nortli,, was also well pleased with the week-end's 'work, the volume of traffic being greater than at any time during the past year. The advance bookings were noticeably down, but those made within a few days of bank holiday were heavy.
Although no figures were available at the time, the officials of the London Terminal Coach Station, S.W.9, estimated that the holiday traffic would show a slight decrease on last year's result. An unusual characteristic of the business from this station was the heavy booking on the South Wales route, whilst a fair number of people came to
London for the holiday. We understand that the traffic proceeded smoothly and there was no over-hooking. Probably, Brighton was the most popular seaside resort, with Margate second and Blackpool third.
The King's Cross Motor Coach Station, Ni, records a big improvement in traffic as compared with that of last year, and on Saturday, August 5, handled 850 coaches. Althotigh, generally speaking, long-distance bookings were low, this station experienced excellent traffic on the Newcastle route.
"EASTERN COUNTIES" BUYS " VARSITY EXPRESS." TUE Eastern Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., Norwich, has acquired the whole of the share capital of Varsity Express Motors, Ltd., Cambridge.The original Varsity concern was formed in 1928, and was converted into a limited company in 1929, the directors being Messrs. EL A. Harvey, A. A. Speak, M.C., and W. Smith, j.P., F.S.A.A. The company has about 30 coaches of A.E.C„ Gilford and Leyland makes,
ROTA SCHEME FOR BRADFORD COACHES.
THE Bradford section of Yorkshire Coach Owners, Ltd., has decided that, subject to the approval of the chief constable of Bradfoi d and the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners, it would give a trial to the operation at the coach stands in the city of a rota scheme similar to that in Leeds, By this arrangement, each coach has its fair turn. It is hoped to start the rota scheme in Bradford (hiring the Bindford holiday week, beginning to-morrow ,(Saturday).
NEW ORDER HELPS OPERATORS.
THE Minister of Transport has made a new Order concerning traffic in the Cowal area of Scotland. On certain roads, vehicles weighing (unladen) up to 3 tons 15 cwt. and not carrying more than 14 passengers, are to be permitted, whereas previously the B40 weight limit was 2i tons. No increase in the number of passengers has, however, been made. On a number of other roads the old restrictions continue.
COUNTY SERVICES FOUNDER DEAD.
THE death has taken place at Bed lington (Northumberland) of Mr. Henry Gordon, one of the founders of County Motor Services, Ltd, Mr. Gordon retiNd from business eight years ago, owing to ill-health. He was 58 years old.
PENNY-A-MILE RAIL 'TICKETS TO CONTINUE.
THE four main-line railway com
panies have decided to issue " summer " tickets until the end of the year, permitting travel at the rate of id. a mile.
REMARKABLE RESULTS FROM COMMER BUSES.
A STRIKING testimony to the effi
ciency and sturdy construction of Commer Corinthian vehicles has been received by Commer Cars, Ltd., Luton, from its distributor in Perth (Australia), the Skipper Bailey Motor Co., Ltd.
The South Suburban Omnibus Co., Ltd., of Australia, put into operation in May, 1931, a Corinthian 24-seater, which, at the time this information was given, had covered 100,000 miles. The
engine was rebored at 75,0,00 miles, and was said still to be in perfect mechanical condition. Apart from this work, maintenance costs had been negligible.
Another Commer was placed in service in April, 1932, and this covered 75,000 miles practically trouble-free. A third Commer Corinthian, with a heavyduty four-cylindered engine, was commissioned in January last, and had covered 15,000 miles, giving every satisfaction.
BIG COMPANIES CO-OPERATE.
REFERENCE was made at a sitting of the Eastern Traffic Commissioners, last week, to an understanding between the Eastern Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., and the Eastern National Omnibus Co., Ltd.
It was stated that there was an arrangement between the two concerns with regard to overlapping areas, and on certain routes neither company would apply for licences without first consulting the other.
MORE SERVICES TRANSFERRED.
INCLUDED in the applications to the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners fat the transfer of licences for existing services taken over from other operators are one from Messrs, Norman Hedges, of Goinersal, in respect of excursions and tours run by Messrs. J. V. Dixon, also of Gomersal, and another from W. and G. Coachways (Manchester), Ltd., Manchester, for a backing previously granted to Messrs. Weaver and Greatorex for excursions and tours. TEMPORARY SETTLEMENT TO NEWCASTLE STATION DISPUTE.
AFTER a dispute lasting for several months, a truce has been reached at Newcastle between the city council and certain of the bus companies using the Haymarket station. The agreement will last until the case comes before a High Court, and, meanwhile, the operators have agreed to pay the standage rates for the use of the Haymarket, which they have withheld since last Septem.ber.
As reported in our issue dated July 28, the corpointion closed the station to the operators concerned. Chains were placed across the entrance and a "Keep-moving" order was enforced, buses being obliged to pick up and set down passengers while in motion. When it was pointed out to the corporation that the proprietors were breaking the Road Traffic Act by setting down mid picking up passengers while the vehicles were moving, they used another site in the neighbourhood as a station.
The city council then served summonses on all operators, drivers and conductors taking part in the dispute, they numbering about 100. At the request of the companies, a conference was then held, when they agreed to pay standage rates pending a decision of the High Court on the matter.
The money is to be kept in a joint account in the names of the Newcastle city treasurer and Mr. J. J. Berry, chairman a the Northern Read Transport Owners' Association..
ANOTHER -GOOD YEAR FOR RAWTENSTALL'S BUSES.
DURING the year ended .March 31, 1933, the 38 Leyland buses in the service of Rawtenstall Corporation were operated at a profit of £16,985. Total income amounted to 176,759 and working expenses to 149,296, whilst capital charges .and taxes, amounting to £10,478 had to be met. The corporation has been operating buses since August, 1924, and so successful have been its operations that a profit has been returned each year. During the past year the buses coveted an aggregate mileage of 1,295,617 and
carried 9,500,516 passengers. Tramcars ceased to run in the borough on March 31, 1932.
RAILWAYS UNDERCUTTING COACH FARES.
LOWrailway excursion fares were quoted in support of an application by S. Ledgard and Co., Leeds, to the Yerkshire Traffic Commissioners, at last week, for permission to reduce from 6s. ad. to Sc. 6d. the charge for the company's half-day coach excursions from Leeds to Scarborough.
It was stated that the London and North Eastern Railway Co. charged 3s. ad. for evening excursions, which, leaving Leeds at about 5 p.m., allowed the passenger three or four hours in Scarborough, and 4s. 6d. for " halfday " excursions to Scarborough, leaving Leeds about 11 am.—the latter, it was contended, really amounting to a day trip. The applicant company submitted that it should be allowed to offer the public the advantages of road travel at fares comparable with those of the railWays.
The Commissioners said they would consider the application.