Operating Aspects of
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Passenger Transport
LATEST NEWS FROM THE TRAFFIC AREAS
Licence Backings: Co-ordination Between Areas.
OPERATORS whose routes extend
through several traffic areas, and who have in the past year been troubled by the imposition of licence conditions by the Commissioners of one area in conflict with conditions imposed by the Commissioners for other areas, will be interested to learn that there is a distinct possibility that the Commissioners of different areas may arrange to confer, more closely than has been possible in the past, before decisions as to such licence conditions are made. The probability is that the foundation for such consultation would be the conditions which -the. Commissioners of the area concerned with the original licence application think suitable.
York Corporation's Licences Granted.
THE transport committee of York Cor
poration reports that the Traffic Commissioners have issued licences in respect of all the road services applied for by the committee.
Standardized Licence Conditions.
IT is possible that, as the result of a discussion between Commissioners for the various areas, some arrangement for standardizing a number of conditions for attachment to road-service licences throughout the country may shortly be given effect. It is certain that this would lessen the work of the Commis3342 sioners themselves, whilst simplifying matters considerably from the point of view of operators.
Nottingham Protection Plea Withdrawn.
WHEN the West Midland Commis sioners held their final 1931 sitting on New Year's Eve (up to which date they had dealt with 5,318 applications), Nottingham Corporation made a request for a protection extending 440 yards beyond the city boundary, the scheme being similar • to that advanced some time ago by Leicester Corporation. It affected mainly the Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., and Barton's Transport, Ltd., but on the following day the Commissioners announced that, as the result of a conference held in the Commissioners' room after the hearing of the applications, Nottingham Corporation withdrew the objection incorporating this request.
The respective licences were granted enabling the companies to continue to Pick up passengers at Tattle Brook. . It may be noted that when evidence was being given for Barton's Transport, Ltd., it was stated that the company commenced to operate between Nottingham and Sandiacre in 1911, that Nottingham Corporation constructed a tram track to Old Lento]] in 1914, and that the Trent company instituted its Nottingham-Derby service in 1918. The corporation service did not extend beyond Old Lenton until 1923. Unopposed Applications: Appearances at Sittings.
FOLLOWING the announcement in our issue for last week that the Southern Commissioners would not require the attendance of applicants whose applications were unopposed, provided that forms and statistical returns were properly filled in, we are in a position to state that it is probable that this attitude will shortly be adopted by the Commissioners of the other traffic areas. At the time of going to press no definite decision has been made public, but further information may be published shortly.
Coach Station for Birmingham.
WITH reference to the brief announce ment on page 742 of our issue for last week, the Great Central Road Station shortly to he opened in Sheepcote Street, Birmingham, will, in the first place, have a floor area of 2,400 sq. ft., and a further section covering 4,000 sq. ft. is to be completed during the year. The station is owned by William Bayliss, Ltd., and the manager is Mr. A. U. Malins.
Joint Municipal Committee in Wales.
SEVERAL meetings have been held between representatives of municipal bodies in South Wales to discuss various bus-service arrangements which have 'been thought inconvenient to the public, One of the more important matters during the past week or two having been the increased charges for season tickets on routes in the eastern valleys. When discussing this matter, a conference of local authorities the other day came to the conclusion that so many difficulties kept occurring with regard to bus services that it would be best if a permanent committee of, say, two members for each local council was set up to deal with them.
There is a growing tendency to form committees of this kind, and they certhinly offer a solution of the difficulty of presenting the public viewpoint to the Commissioners.
A Transport Combination in the Midlands.
TO combat wasteful competition 21 bus operators and haulage concerns in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire have now formed the Midland Motor Users Co., Ltd., a company limited by guarantee. Mr. R. R. Perron, the secretary, has his office at 4, Burr Lane, Ilkeston. It is understood that the members comprise concerns which were associated as the Erewash Valley Omnibus Owners' Association. Co-operative purchasing and co-ordination are the main objects.
London Taxi Drivers' Protest.
IT is understood that the executive committee of the Taxi Drivers' League has, in a letter addressed to the Minister of Transport, expressed "profound disappointment" at the decision not to include any representative of the London taxicab trade among the four additional members who have been appointed to the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee.
A "Midland Red" Acquisition. THE motor-coach business established by Mr. E. W. How, of Leicester, under the name of the Highfields Motor Service, has been acquired by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd. Mr. How claims to have been one of the pioneers of circular trips and extended tours occupying several days.
Reorganization in Hull.
THE new manager of Hull Corporation Transport Department, • Mr. Duncan P. Morrison, in a further report on the reorganization of the undertaking, has recommended the estabmeat of a common central terminal point and a central bus-clearing station, also a. scheme for centralizing at least the general offices, bus workshops, stores and garage on a site as near as possible to the bus-station site.
The transport committee is approaching the town-planning committee with regard to the provision of a bus-clearing station near Paragon railway station. and has already apnroved the principle of centralization. The manager has now been asked to present a report on the reorganization of the transport staff.
Cumberland Farmers' Travel Difficulties.
RECENTLY Wigton Rural District
Council, Cumberland, has discussed the inconvenience caused to the public by unsatisfactory bus-service arrangements in the locality. A certain amount of genuine protest appears to have been made by farmers, who have found it difficult to make attendances at markets which are essential to their farming business. The council finally decided to approach the Northern Traffic Com,
miseioners, as well as the bus companies concerned. This is another evidence of local authorities taking up the cause of the road-travelling public.
Stance for Birmingham Race Trips.
IT has been decided by the West Mid-land Commissioners to permit Station Street, Birmingham, to be used as a starting point for excursions to races, as well as to football matches. The Commissioners have come to the conclusion that this class of traffic .is distinct from ordinary pleasure tours, and that the latter must start from a different stance. Considerable controversy has arisen during the hearing of cases which were affected by this starting
point problem. • • Municipal Support for Varsity Concern.
THE highways committee of Southall Urban District Council has been requested by Varsity Express Motors, Ltd., to support an appeal against the proposal of the Traffic Commissioner to limit the company's intermediate stopping places in the district, and the committee recommends supporting the protest against the proposal of the Commissioner.
Trish Bus-service Figures.
STATISTICS of bus service in the
Irish Free State for the month of November have been issued by the Department of Industry and Commerce. The number of vehicle-miles run in the Dublin district was 1,162,000, against 072,000 in November, 1930, and the:
total for the Free State was 2,301,000 against 2,035,000. Taking the 11 months of 1931, the total vehicle-miles amounted to 24,502,000, against 21,872.000 in the 11 months of 1930, the number of passengers carried being 53,032,000, compared with 45,820,000, and the total receipts £818,731, against £749,249.
Stoekton's Appeal Succeeds.
FULL information concerning the re
sult of Stockton Corporation's appeal against the refusal of the Northern Commissioners to license a bus service between Stockton and Middlesbrough, via sicklani and Thornaby, reached this office just too late for inclusion in our issue for last week. The decision of the Commissioners was set aside and the Minister has ordered that, with the withdrawal of the tram service of the Corporations of Middlesbrough, Thornaby and Stockton on the road between Norton Green and North Orrnesby, the Commissioners shall forthwith grant Stockton Corporation a licence for the above-mentioned service, subject to provisions to ensure that the number of vehicle journeys on any day shall not exceed the number pro
vided by either Red Wing Safety Services, Ltd., or Smith's Safeway Services, Ltd., whichever may be fewer.
It will be recalled that Middlesbrough Corporation also was refused a similar licence and has appealed to the Minister.
The service was started by the Imperial Tramways Co. 34 years ago and was taken over by the three corporations just after the war. Petrol buses will be used in place of the trams. The service has not proved a paying proposition of late years and Stockton alone will have to find £13,000 per annum for
20 years to clear off the debt. ,
Readers will remember that. the extension of this service, the Tees-side Railless Traction Board's (Middlesbrough and Eaton) trolley-bus service from North Ormesby to Eaton is to be reorganized and orders have been plaeed for a new fleet of trolley-buses.
Bournemouth's Big Station Nearly Ready.
THE big motor-coach station at the Square, Bournemouth, which is being constructed by Richmond Garages, Ltd., and to which reference has been made in the past in this journal, is now approaching completion. It is expected to be ready to deal with a heavy volume of traffic at Easter, it being estimated that between 12,000 and 15,000 persons will use this station in the course of an ordinary week-end during the height of the summer season.
It is a two-level station. The main passenger entrance will be from the Square, and coaches proceeding to the upper floor will enter by way of Richmond Hill and leave by a ramp leading into Bourne Avenue. The total area will be in the neighbourhood of 15,000 sq. ft., and the accommodation will be for about 150 motor coaches. Passengers will be under cover when boarding vehicles, and every convenience is to be provided, including provision of restaurant facilities capable of dealing with 500 Persons at a time, waitingrooms, cloakrooms, etc.
Northern Conference Regarding 12-journey Tickets.
LOCAL councils in the Northern Area are now appointing members to represent them at the conference which has been convened by the Northern Comsioners to ascertain the views of the local authorities on the introduction of 12-journey bus tickets. L.U.T. Trolley-bus Extension Sanctioned.
AT an extraordinary general meeting of London United Tramways, Ltd., iteld on January 5th, a resolution was passed approving the promotion of the Provisional Order authorizing the use of trolley vehicles on an additional route in the Tolworth area, in Surrey. The extension is one of approximately 1,500 yards route length and the capital cost, including vehicles, power supply, etc., is estimated to be within 111,000.
It was explained how about 17 miles of tramway, connecting Kingston with Twickenham, Wimbledon and Tolworth, and connecting Surbiton with the Dittons, had been replaced by a trolleybus system. The cost of operation per vehicle-mile was approximately 15 per cent, of the average tramcar cost, this being partly due to the road-maintenance charge iffiposed upon tramways. Against that charge, a lieence duty of £86 per annum on each trolley-bus had to be paid.
The trolley-bus system in this area has proved its capacity to earn more revenue than the tramway system which it replaced, but it is realized that the -konversion took place in a favourable area, in that the traffic flow is more evenly distributed throughout the working hours of the day than is generally the case on tramway systems.
Coaching to Devon Resorts.
AT a meeting of Sidmouth Council the other day, the roads committee reported having considered a circular letter from Ilfracombe Urban District Council with reference to the refusal by the Western Commissioners of licences to motor-coach operators wishing to run express services from London to various parts of Devon. It was hoped that, in time for the next meeting of Sidmonth Council, such information would be at hand as would suffice to permit steps to be taken to safeguard local interests in this particular respect.
Premier Line Licence Granted.
A PRELIMINARY licence applied for
by Premier Line, Ltd., for a service between Aylesbury and Windsor, via Slough, has been granted by the East Midland Commissioners, a stipulation being made that only eight coaches daily shall be run in each direction. It will be recalled that the Southern Commissioners have refused a backing and that the company has appealed to the Minister of Transport against the refusal of this backing.
Fares Agreement for Holiday Bookings.
THE Smethwick and District Omnibus and Coach Owners Association has agreed to charges for seaside-holiday period bookings next summer, if accepted by the Traffic Commissioners. The charges are as follow :—Llandudno (including Rhyl and Colwyn Bay), Westonsuper-Mare, Blackpool, 25s. ; Weymouth, 32s. 6d.; Bournemouth, 30s.; Aberystwyth, 27s. 6d.; Yarmouth, 40s.; Tor quay, 42s. These bookings apply to August week and are in some cases slightly higher than those charged last year. Road Travellers' Associations in Northern Ireland.
mANy operators and persons in
authority have anticipated the formation of associations for the protection of travellers by road. The Roadways Federation, Ltd., has included some such scheme amongst its objects, but, generally speaking, little has been done in this country to champion the cause of :those who use and pay for road services.
In connection with an increase in bus fares on the L.M.S. route between Belfast and Islandmagee, a public meeting was held a few days ago at which various resolutions were passed, and an executive committee was appointed to prepare a protest against any increase of the fares now ruling.
East Midland Applications.
THE Commissioners of the East Mid land Area request us to state that they have forwarded to all operators whose road service licences are due for renewal on February 29th, 1932, the necessary forms to enable them to make their applications. The Commissioners desire to impress upon operators the need for returning these forms as quickly as possible in order that sittings may be arranged so that continuity of licence may be possible if the service be warranted.
Applicants who have not yet returned their forms to Vernon House, Friar Lane, Notinghatn, are requested to do so as early as possible and certainly not later than the end of January.