Municipal Bus Results
Page 47
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
I EICESTER BUSES CARRY TRAMS.
AS in many other towns, Leicester Corporation's revenue from " its buses continues to rise, whilst that from the tramways is dropping. During the year ended March 31 last, the bases worked at a surplus of £5,500 (£3,464 a year ,earlier), but the deficit on the trams of £555 (which contrasted with a surplus of £6,521 in 1933,34) reduced the net profit to £4,944.
The corporation's 74 buses of Guy, Leyland, A.E.C. and Crossley makes earned a total revenue of £133,980 and carried 20,763,996 passengers, increases of £17,563 and 3,114,237 respectively. The vehicles covered 2,451,547 miles and, on a vehicle-mile basis, receipts average 13.116d. Working expenses rose by £1,182 to £114,093-11.169d. per bus-mile as against 12.107d. for the previous year.
The total receipts from both the buses and trams amounted to £405,002, and the passengers carried numbered 66,258,497—decreases of 41,317 and 8,064 respectively.
COLCHESTER'S LOSS HALVED.
DURING the past municipal year, the deficit on Colchester Corporation's bus undertaking was halved, the net loss standing at £850, against £1,695 a year earlier. The gross profit amounted to £4,784, as compared with £3,989 in 1933-34.
The traffic revenue rose from £34,603 to £35,934, equalling, respectively, 10.63d. and 11.01d. per bus-mile. The total expenditure increased to £37,437, or 11.47d. per bus-mile. The number of passengers carried rose from 5,440,808 to 5,685,001.
The debt on the undertaking remaining to be provided for at the end of the year was £18,843. In March last, the corporation operated 26 buses, most of whichwere of Dennis make.
BARROW'S RECORD TRAFFIC.
V"Ygratifying " was the description applied by Councillor W. 1-1. Pickthall, chairman of Barrow Corporation's transport committee, to the results for the past year's working of the bus undertaking. In the year ended March 31 last, the corporation's 36 buses earned £61,461 and worked at a total operating cost of £43,214. After providing for interest and sinking-fund charges (£10,832) and making a contribution of £4,797 to the renewals fund, there was a net profit of £2,618.
Receipts from the local services increased by £5,547, and those from the joint service by £344. The total expenditure rose by £3,195. The number of passengers carried represented a record, the figure being 9,798,175, which was 1,039,881 higher than in the year 1933-34.
In the discussion on the accounts, Councillor Pickthall stated that the committee would shortly have to face the question of whether to raise loans to replace rolling stock which had been purchased out of revenue—" a bad policy" he remarked.
SMALL DEFICIT AT DARWEN.
DARWEN Corporation's small bus system which is operated by 10 Leyland vehicles, worked, during the past municipal year, at a net loss of £268, the number of passengers carried having declined by 18,746. The profit on the trams rose by £334 to 44,472, the number of tramcar passengers having increased by 117,525.
Councillor E. Leach said that the undertaking was feeling the effect of the continued industrial depression.
ALL-ROUND IMPROVEMENTS IN GLASGOW'S TRAFFIC.
GT.,ASGOW Corporation's transport system, comprising buses, trams and underground railway, earned, between them, the record revenue of £2,887,647 in the year ended May 31 last, this figure representing an increase of £111,333 over the previous year's figure.
The bus revenue rose by £51,882 to £644,410, whilst the number of passengers carried increased by 5,396,540 to 76,302,123. The tramways revenue totalled £2,176,165, an increase of £58,012, whilst the number of passengers carried rose by 14,557,046 to 449,651,683. The introduction of weekly season tickets on the buses has been most successful.
ABERDEEN'S REVENUE UP.
FOR the year ending May 31 last, Aberdeen Transport Department reports total receipts of £272,917, an increase of £3,668 over last year's figure. Passengers carried numbered 59,163,990, as compared With 58,897,945
DUDLEY'S SHARE HIGHER.
DUDLEY borough treasurer reports J-/that toe total amount received from the Birmingham and Midland Omnibus Co., Ltd., for the past year amounted to £7,723, as against £4,869 for the previous year.
PROFIT AT PLYMOUTH.
PLYMOOTH Corporation reports a net profit of 41,573 on the transport undertaking for the past year.
At a recent meeting of the transport committee, the manager reported that, during the year, the final payment of 212,396 would be made on the 35 buses obtained on the hire-purchase system, and he recommended the purchase of a farther 37 buses over a six-year period. The committee agreed to obtain tenders for the 37 vehicles.
Northampton Corporation reports a profit of £3,165 on the transport undertakings for the past year.
NORTHERN CONCERNS AMALGAMATE
iT is reported that Venture Bus Sc. vices, Ltd., Ebchester (Co. Durham), has taken over Messrs. Yellow Bus Services, who control 12 buses operating between Newcastle, Consett, Rowlands Gill and Medorrisley. The two concerns now have a combined fleet of about 60 vehicles. The present services are to be maintained and the sanction of the Northern Traffic Commissioners will be sought.
" UNITED COUNTIES" DISPUTE TO BE SETTLED?
A SETTLEMENT of the long-stand
ing dispute between the United Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd , and its employees is in sight. Hourly rates of pay for drivers and conductors, in place of the daily rates in force, are provided for in the latest proposals to be submitted by the company to the men. Other demands of the employees include payment for overtime, special pay for Sunday and Bank Holiday work, and an annual holiday with pay. A mass meeting of the men is to consider the company's offer.
BUSES FROM HANTS TO I.O.W.?
JT is reported that, if present negotiations be brought to fruition, buses may meet trains on the LondonBournemouth main line, at Broekenburst, and transport passengers to the Isle of Wight, via a new ferry service from Keyhaven, Hants, to Fort Victoria, near Yarmouth. At this point the Solent is only a mile wide and the crossing would take about 10 minutes.
1.0.M. STRIKE SETTLEMENT.
UTNDER the terms of the settlement ‘...Jof the strike of transport workers in the Isle of Man, which was reported in last week's issue, the men will receive 46s. per 48shour week in the summer and 94s. per 46-hour week in the winter; operatives in outside districts will be paid 2s. a week less. The agreement will remain in force for two years.
KEEN EFFORTS TO AVOID TOLL ROUTE.
SO keen is competition by bus corn. panics for sanction from the South Wales Traffic Commissioners to utilize the new Cardiff-Barry-Penarth route, via Llaudough, made possible by the recently opened Leckwith Bridge and road, that every operator on the Cardiff-Barry routes has applied for licences for this route.
Cardiff Transport Committee has decided to oppose all these applications, on the ground that the municipal buses already provide an efficient service.
This is a free alternative route to the Penarth Road toll road. It is estimated that bus companies and coach owners jointly pay at least £25,000 per annum for use of the Cardiff-Penarth road.