FLEET INCREASE BY YORK CORPORATION RECOMMENDED
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THE transport manager of York Corporation, Mr. R. S. Asher, reports that be has considered the opinions expressed at a recent meeting of the cor-. poration regarding railless vehicles and The Transport Manager Puts Forward Development Schemes to Keep the System Up to Date as the council seems determined not to purchase double-deck railless vehicles and extend the overhead equipment, at the present period, from Pavement to Heslington Lane, he suggests the purchase of three 32-seater single-deck railless vehicles for operation on the Heworth-Pavement route only. This will utilize the overhead equipment which is at present non-revenue-producing and which has to be maintained, and it will bring in revenue to help pay off the very heavy outstanding capital charges, as stated in a previous report.
The estimated cost of three railless single-deck 32-seaters is 14,200, as against £6,000 for doutile-deck vehicles. and there is a saving of 13,000 on overhead equipment from Pavement to-Heslington Lane, a total saving of 14,800 in capital outlay.
The two petrol machines which are at present in operation on the Heworth route would be transferred, and used for service on the new Burton Stone Lane housing estate. This estate must be. catered for immediately, and the profits received there will be sufficient toMeet capital charges; interest and sinking fund on these vehicles, and will allow the Clifton service to be improved.
With regard to the football traffic, the report draws attention to the fact that the traffic commissioners are already anpointed and the Road Traffic Act in coming into operation. Up to date nothing has been done by the council in order to meet the requirements of this special traffic, and as all licences have to be applied for in January and issued prior to April 1st, the matter permits of no delay.
He suggests therefore, for serious consideration, the purchase of three_ doubledeck petrol buses, each 'seating 48 passengers, the maximum number allowed by the Road Traffic Act, section 26. These vehicles will be available for any extra services, whether for football matches. racecourse traffic, galas, or any other special events in the city.
In addition to being used for football traffic, these vehicles would be useful on the following workpeople's services,where at the present time they are running two 32-seaters :--Rowntree Works and Tang Hall; Terry Works and Tang Hall. One double-decker would suffice on each of these services, thereby saving the wages of one driver and one conductor on each of the routes, and the proposal, incidentally, would help to make the workpeople's traffic pay, whereas at the present time it is just meeting expenses. Certain routes call for larger vehicles, such as the Poppleton Road route, particularly on Friday evenings and Saturday evenings, and Mr. Asher feels confident that the machines would pay their way on these peak services. In view of the Road Traffic Act and the traffic commissioners already being appointed, he very strongly recommends the committee to purchase forthwith three double-deck petrol buses, at £5,355.
The matter is urgent, and Mr. Asher believes that if it be possible to have the machines running in January, the city will maintain its municipal undertaking to advantage, but if the matter be delayed, it is estimated that there will be a revenue lois of £650 per annum from football matches alone, an asset which the corporation at present holds. He does not think the authority can afford to have any more delays. After consideration the committee recommended the purchase of two double-deck tailless vehicles and three double-deck petrol buses. The city council, however, has decided to buy three singledeck tailless vehicles.