Operating Aspects of
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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
BELFAST TROLLEYBUS OPPONENTS DEFEATED
BEFORE the year is out, Belfast Corporation expects to open two new trolleybus routes, as it is hoped that 30 new vehicles will shortly be delivered. A member of the council critiCized the decision of the transport committee to proceed with the trolleybus scheme iri East Belfast, and thought that an effort might be made to patch up the tramway track. Another proposal to refer back the scheme was defeated. The chairman of the transport committee emphasized that he would not be prepared to accept responsibility for the condition of the undertaking at the end of the war if the scheme were delayed.
PRIVATE HIRE STOPPED BY LONDON TRANSPORT.
BECAUSE of petrol rationing, London Transport has discontinued its private-hire service. An official of the Board made it known that, although sufficient petrol can be obtained to run the present curtailed bus services, it was not possible to obtain extra supplier, for private-hire work.
HUDDERSFIELD HAS BUSLIGHTING PROBLEM.
REFERENCE was made at a meeting of Huddersfield Borough Council, last week, to what was described as a threat of prosecution, by the police, against drivers of Huddersfield publicservice vehicles and the manager of the Passenger Transport Department, because it was contended that the lights on the vehicles were insufficiently restricted for black-out purposes.
Alderman Bennie Gray, chairman of the transport committee, said the matter did not go so far as prosecution, but he quoted it in replying to numerous complaints which, he said, the department had received that there had been excessive darkening of vehicles.
Recalling that two vehicles which A32 were prepared for the consideration of the police had semi-transparent blue wash on the windows, Alderman Gray said the vehicles were" inspected and passed as being correct, but when the emergency arose the department was told 'that no light inside should be visible from the windows. Following the threat of prosecution, another coat of blue was put on the windows, bringing them into the condition in which they were at present.
Dissatisfied with the position, the department had been experimenting with lamp shades and coloured lamps to try to meet the rigid requirements of the police.
BLACKBURN JOINT COMMITTEE DELAY.
THE town clerk of Blackburn has reported to his council that, at this stage, there is no likelihood of agreement being reached between the Blackburn, Darwen and Ac,crington Corporations on the question of the formation of a joint transport committee,
MINERS' BUSES MUST GO ON.
DUS services for miners in East Fife'
are not to be curtailed, In a letter to Leven Town Council, Fife bus concerns have also agreed not to increase fares. These concessions follow representations by Leven Council, on behalf of the large mining population that travels long distances by bus to the Wemyss coalfield_ LEICESTER PLANS FOR NEW BUS STATION.
A CCORDING to a recently issued 1-"Lhandbook dealing with civic affairs in Leicester, it is made known that, in connection with the central ring road which is to be built under the redevelopment scheme, a bus station is to be established at the corner of Abbey Street. As planned, the station will have 12 platforms, 20 ft. apart, and ample protection will be provided for passengers.
GAS-PRODUCER BUSES' SUCCESS AT BRISTOL
WE gather that the experiments that W are being conducted in Bristol with gas-producer buses are proving successful. In this area, several buses are operating on this fuel, and in two of them the plant is installed in a partitioned-off compartment at the rear.
In another case, in which a bus in the service of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., has been converted for operation on producer gas, the plant is mounted on a two-wheeled trailer.
STAGGERED CLOSING TIMES TO HELP TRANSPORT?
Tavoid nightly scrambles for late buses after evening shows, Blackpool's transport manager (Mr. Walter Luff) has suggested that closing times should be "staggered." This, he says, will make it possible for people to be carried home in greater comfort.
22 APPLICANTS FOR VACANT MANAGERSHIP.
ikfiANAGERSHIP of the Burnley, 1VIColne and Nelson Joint Transport undertaking, rendered vacant by the appointment of Mr. C. H. Stafford to Leicester, was sought by 22 applicants for the post. The committee which has the matter in hand has reduced the list to three, these being Mr. H. Broughton, who is, at present, chief administrative assistant; Mr. J. Whittaker, traffic manager to Leicester Corporation, and Mr. F, Bryan, traffic manager of the Eastern National Omnibus Co., Ltd.
PRIVATE BUSES AND CITY PASSENGERS.
rONTROVERSY has been revived on the question as to whether existing regulations could be relaxed, in these exceptional times, so that privately owned buses operating to and from Nottingham might be used by those travelling between points within the city boundaries. Mr. J. H. Stirk, East Midland Traffic Commissioner, has stated that--" This question has been raised before. Both the corporation and the .private bus companies concerned have given it careful consideration. They are all against it, principally for the reason that longdistance buses would be crowded out by short-distance passengers. As regards inward journeys, the suggestion was impracticable because of the large proportion of return tickets."