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Operating Aspects of

12th May 1939, Page 44
12th May 1939
Page 44
Page 45
Page 44, 12th May 1939 — Operating Aspects of
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PASSENGER TRANSPORT

BRISTOL'S CHANGE OVER GOES AHEAD

THE total cost of Bristol's changeover to buses is now estimated at £500,233. The Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., and Bristol Corporation, as joint owners of the city's transport system, will each contribute £250,116.

This sum is in excess of original estimates, as it has been found that more vehicles are required than was at first thought necessary, and the cost of vehicles, buildings, etc., has increased. ., The committee states that the speed with which the tramway undertaking can be replaced is governed by the supply of vehicles. Since October 1, 1937, 146 complete, machines and 41 chassis have been delivered.

ROTHERHAM " PREPARES" FOR TROLLEYBUSES.

THE transport manager of Rotherham Corporation has been authorized to purchase 100 trolley poles and 12 miles of trolley wire for the purpose of introducing trolleybus services on certain bus routes, in the event of a national emergency.

FUEL SUPPLIES IN WAR-TIME.

AT a sitting of the Traffic Commissioners for the Southern Area of Scotland, in Glasgow, last week, Mr. Archibald Henderson, chairman, said that, in war-time, there would probably be a 3'3 per cent. cut in petrol supplies, and this would change with circumstances, The Traffic Commissioners wished operators to draw up revised time-tables, which would come into force only when a time of emergency occurred. In this connection some operators had already acted, notably the S.M.T. and subsidiary companies, and Glasgow Corporation Transport Department.

PORTSMOUTH SHOWS A NET PROFIT OF 11,360.

ALOSS of £9,153, a year ago, by the Portsmouth passenger transport undertaking, has been turned into a net profit of £1,360, after meeting a charge of £15,373 on the now abandoned tram system. That is an outstanding feature of the annual report just issued.

In his report, Mr. Ben Hall, the general manager, gives what he describes as " enlightening " comparisons of the working of buses and trolleybuses. The trolleybus system, he points out, pays £6,482 in rates, whilst the bus system pays only £1,026; yet there are 132 buses and only 100 trolleybuses.

Despite this additional charge the A34

trolleybuses show a gross profit, On working expenses, of 26 per cent, as against the bus figure of 23 per cent.

Although the period allowed by the Ministry for the paying off of loans on trolleybuses is 10 years, Portsmouth loans, he says, are being spread over seven years, but it can be contended only as a good policy if the undertaking can afford the higher annual charge without placing an undue burden on the passengers. The expected life of a trolleybus, he says, is 14 years.

BUS CONDUCTORS RECEIVE INCREASED PAY.

A WAGE increase of 3s. weekly to IA bus conductors employed by Stockton-on-Tees Corporation has been granted. Similar steps have been taken by Middlesbrough Corporation transport undertaking.

EDINBURGH BUS TENDERS TO BE RE-ADVERTISED.

BYa unanimous vote, Edinburgh Town Council, last week, decided to remit back to the public utilities committee the question of allocating the contracts for 30 motor buses, the tenders for which were to be readvertised.

The public utilities committee had previously adhered to a former decision regarding the placing of the order, but Mr. West Russell, convener of the transport sub-committee, moving the remit back, said that certain members wished some matters cleared up. Councillor Allan, seconding, said that there was an atmosphere of suspicion, in Edinburgh, regarding the contracts, and he was anxious that this suspicion should be allayed.

NEWCASTLE EXTENDS TROLLEYBUS ROUTES

SANCTION to proceed with the project for introducing trolleybuses for trams, on the Elswick Road route, in Newcastle-on-Tyne, has been given to the transport committee by the city council.

An extension to Wickham View, West Benwell, is included in the • scheme, the capital cost being estimated at £68,763—£54,000 for trolleybuses, £7,290 for overhead equipment, and £7,473 towards the reinstatement of highways.

Application for a Provisional Order will be made to the Ministry of Transport.

SUCCESSFUL OPERATION OF TROLLEYBUSES IN ALGIERS.

I T is a surprising fact that, despite the availability of cheap electric power. the trolleybus is practically nonexistent in France. Our French correspondent gives, as one reason for this, the prejudice which exists against the type.

In Algiers, however, trolleybuses are operated with excellent results, their adoption, in that country, following successful results obtained by the Municipality of Constantine, over a period of eight years.

The Algiers system came into operation about four years ago and, to-day, the fleet comprises 85 machines, with 10 vehicles in reserve, all of the type shown in an accompanying illustration. They are of French Thomson-Houston make and operate at a profit, which is contrary to any provincial tram service operated in France.

RAILWAYS' NEW LINE OF OPPOSITION

IN seeking authority to take over a series of three excursion and tours licences from Mr. H. Ashford, of lireasie, Salford, the Lancashire United Transport and Power Co., Ltd., was confronted by unusual opposition at a public sitting of the Traffic Commissioners held in Manchester last webk. . Representatives, both of the .railway companies and of another road operator, made submissions that two of the three licences should be refused on the ground of redundancy, because the number of passengers carried,: during, the past year or so, had been small.

Sir William Chamberlain -fired a string of questions at the principal opposition witness to the effect that a whole set of new principles was being applied to the coach operator.." Was it really suggested that they should be tied down on renewal to what they had done in the previous 12 months?:' " Did they really mean that an annual revision of the schedule of destinations should be made and those which had not been used deleted?".

Ultimately, he authorized the transfer, so far as the Various excursions from Weaste were concerned, but declined to allow the extended tours that Mr. Ashford had operated, and he deferred his decision in regard to excursions from Swinton and Walkden.

NEWCASTLE ORDERS MORE TROLLEYBUSES. VUE are informed by Karrier Motors, YV Ltd., Luton, Beds, that it has

received a further contract for trolleybuses from Newcastle-on-Tyne Corporation. This latest order, which is for 12 double-deckers, represents the fifth repeat orcler received by the Karrier concern from Newcastle. When fulfilled, the Corporation will be operating 50 trolleyhtises of Karrier pattern.

We understand that many Karrier machines have been in regular use since 1933.

Those to he delivered will be of the

E6 six-wheeled type with bodies providing accommodation for 60 passengers. Each will be driven by Met-Vick 80 hp. motor, and will incorporate low-tension lighting.

CANCELLED RAILWAY EXCURSION—THE REASON.

THE strong plea, so often heard at

traffic courts, that the railway facilities should be protected because they were run whatever the circumstances might be, was somewhat upset when, at the opening of a court at Manchester last week, Sir William Chamberlain allowed the railway representative to explain why a railway excursion, from Runcorn for a football match at Rhyl, did not run.

For the L.M.S. Railway Company it was said that this excursion was not withdrawn, as was suggested, because of lack of patronage, but because of an accident to the mechanical apparatus in the signal cabin, at Frodsham. The only possible decision had been to cancel the excursion.


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