MOTORBUS DEVELOPMENTS ON TYNESIDE.
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The Linking-up of Tramcar and Motorbus Services Over a Wide Area.
WIDESPREAD co-ordination and linking-up of motor omnibus and trans services on Tyneside have followed the establishing of through-running over the tramway systems owned by the Newcastle Corporation and the Gateshead and District Tramiva,ys Co., Ltd., re
h'Pectively. Lines were recently laid across the High Level Bridge, which 'provides one of the leading connecting links between the two large industrial centres, and, consequent upon this, through-rosining between all the important termini on both sides of the river by vehicles of both concerns has been instituted, and is proving a boon to restdents of the two neighbourhoods.
Satisfactory as has been the result from the standpoint of the inhabitants of Nesvcastie and Gateshead, however, the matter has by no means ended-there. As a result of the careful consideration of facilities and-details, such as the coinciding of time-tables, etc., and by utilizing to the full the motor omnibus services in the vicinity, which act as feeders or prolongations of the tram routes, a district of over 15 miles in practically all directions of the Tyne is now Hared up in a comprehensive manner, which gives regular, frequent, and convenient services from and to all parts. The traveller is now this to cover sis etches of country up tc :..leout
20 miles or 25 miles by the use of tram and bets with a minimum of delay and changing of vehicles, as welt as with reasonable economy.
• On the north side of the river the Newcastle transport and _ electricity undertaking is responsible . for the maintenance of several important bus routes, as well as tram services, All the bus services act • as extensions of the tram facilities, and the joint services provide residents of the Outlying country districts With a very ready means of reaching the shopping centre. • The services operated by the New castle undertaking are :— • • Haymarket, to Pontelarrei.
5coiswoo4 Bridge tram terminus to Blaydon,,Ryten, and Craw crook.
Scoiewood Bridge tram terminus tc Prudhoe, Mickley, and Branch End (near Stocksh•eld).
• Srotswood Bridge tram terminus to Clara Vale. • Slatyford tram terminus to Whorlton. West Moor tram terminus to Cramling ton.
West Moor tram terminus to Holystone.
West Moor tram terminus to Seaton Sluice.
These routes comprise industrial, agricultural, and residential areas, and provide means of 'reaching several popular beauty-spots and seaside resorts in the distriet. In the summer season particularly the serviCee, should obtain considerable patronage, for they provide a handy means of spending pleasant half and whole-day excursions, as well at giving access to favourite picnic spots.
On the other side of the river there has been an extremely interestiag and enterprising development by the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., who operate over 100 miles of motorbus routes in this district. This is in the, shape of the opening of their first motorbus station and waiting-room. Prior to the esta`blishment of through-running on the traMservisas, the starting point for the company's several welliiatronized services radiating • from Gateshead was near the High Level Bridge, on the immediate south of the river, but since the erection of the station they have discontinued the through town-running, and have made the Low Fell tram terminus their starting point.
it is there that the company have constructed their bus station, which is a smart and commodious structure, providing comfortable shelter for passengers changing from tram to bus, or vice versa, on the journey. From this station passengers are assured of a regular and frequent service of buses to the various places linked up by the company, including Durham and Chester-le-Street, from whith numerous services also radiate to many mining and other towns and villages of importance.
The establishment of the bus station will provide a number of oulstanAing advantages. In the first pLace, the care and comfortof travellers are assured; and, furthermore the main thoroughfares of Gateshead have been relieved, by the suspension of the'in-towas services, of w:h.a.t tvoii.d ultimately have resulted in serions•congestion of traffic in the principal business thoroughfares.
-• Another benefit bestowed on the public is that they are now able, by means of the through-running of the amnia, to be conveyed direct to Low Fell, where they can board a waiting bus in most instances, instead of, as formerly, having. to leave one tram on the. Newcastle side; walk across the bridge, which is about. one-quarter of a mile long, and then board the bus or another car on the ,other side.
The careful arrangement of the time.tables of the undertakings 'concerned makes rapid journeys possible over long distances, and, as an instance ef the. ground which can be covered, it might be mentioned that the services provide for journeys from Ponteland to Durham,. which are souse 20 odd miles apart, and from the seaside resort, Seaton Sluice, to Durham, which are even farther apart.
All-weather Double-decker • Developments.
The London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., inform us that they are being inundated with suggestions for fitting some form of all-weather covering to the tops of motorbuses.
The company wish us to make it clear that they are not in a position at the present mornent•to deal with suggestions of this nature until the new N.S. type of omnibus has made its appearance on the London streets, and the suitabilty of adding a covered top to it has been ascertained. It is hoped before many weeks have passed to have the first of these new buses in service.
The stew ,:buses will be materially different •from the latest type in service, the seating, ventilation, springing and lighting showing a great advancement.
In connection with hooded bus developments, it is interesting to note that Mr. F. H. Beck, of Broadstairs, recently demonstrated an the streets of Londona B-type bus fitted with a hood of his own design, as. is shown in the accompanying illustration. We remember inspecting an experimental type of this form of collapsable hood close on eight years ago, and it is worth noting that Beck still maintains faith in his hood to solve the problem after so many years. The hood is a one-man apparatus and it can readily be manipulated by the conductor and, when not in use, it is neatly stowed away over the projection above the driver's compartment.
Fleetwood Motor Coach Stands.
At a meeting of the Fleetwood Council recently Mr. W. Knowles referred to the recommendation regarding the stands for motor chars-habancs coming into the town, and said the particulars given in the minutes were not sufficiently explicit for the information of the public. He was of the opinion that some charge should be levied on these motor. vehicles remaining in the streets for a given period, despite the fact that the clerk had ruled it was impossible to collect a toll from vehicles On the King's highway. He felt there should be ways and means found to impose a toll, and he further suggested that motor coaches and vehicles over 4 tons should not be allowed to use the promenade.
Chelmsford Watch Committee has decided to issue hackhey carriage licences to local people only.
Bridlington Watch Committee is considering the advisability of not granting any further licences for double-duck motor omnibuses.