Operating Aspects of
Page 54
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Passenger Transport
All the latest news of important developments affecting public-service
vehicle owners RAILWAYS URGE LIMITED DUPLICATION
THE fact that the co-ordination of six companies' services between Liverpool and Newcastle-onTyne and Redcar had reduced the vehicle mileage, by about 300,000 annually w4s mentioned by Mr. J. Lustgarten, who (on behalf of the companies concerned) sought the modification of conditions at a sitting of the North-Western Traffic CommisionerS, at Manchester, on Friday. -last. It was. announced that the Commissioners would confine their findings to the limitation of duplication.
The railways pointed out that the Minister of Transport's order limited duplication to four times the minimum number of coaches run daily throughout the year and laid down that traffic between extreme-distance termini on trunk railways should be handled by the railways.
Mr. Lustgarten gave figures to show that no great proportion of through passengers was carried and said that the services were not extreme-distance
• services, were not principally of a holiday nature and were not on a backbone railway route; there were only three through trains a day and none on Sundays. Mr. J. W. Womar, general manager of the North-Western Road Car Co„ Ltd., stated that 8-10 per cent, of the passengers booked right through.
The chairman of the Commissioners said that these were essential business services, but it was conceivable that at particular periods they might develop into services of a holiday character.
B38 Ha requested details of duplications operated in the past, and a decision was reserved.
NO INQUIRY AT HULL.
HULL City Council has decided not 1 Ito hold an inquiry into the finances of the transport department. A suggestion for such an inquiry was referred to in our issue dated February 1.
At a meeting of the city council, Councillor J. G. Hewett declared that, if the transport department were run on commercial lines, it could be made remunerative within 12 months. He stated that the organization was carrying a considerable number of redundant employees, whilst it was saddled with the cost of many free passes.
EXCURSION FARES FIXED IN EAST MIDLAND AREA.
AS a result of •meetings held in the East Midland Area, during the past two months, to co-ordinate fares for excursions and tours, the Commissioners have issued a 154-page book setting out the agreed minimum fares. Objections to the charges must be lodged in writing with the Commissioners by to-morrow (Saturday).
Unless otherwise stated, children up to five years of age may be carried free, provided that they do not occupy a seat required by a fare-paying passen
ger, whilst between the ages of 5 and 14 years half the adult fare shall apply. Half-day excursions and tours shall not commence before noon, whilst evening trips shall not start before 5 p.m.
The Commissioners have not yet reached a final decision regarding the age limit for the free conveyance of children and, pending the promulgation of their findings, operators may continue to carry children free of charge up to the age limit observed by them prior to the introduction of the age limit in the 1933 excur.sion-fares schedule.
S.M.T. TO BUY BIG SCOTTISH COMPANY?
TIIR directors of the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., have offered to purchase the share capital of the Fife Tramway, Light and Power Co., Ltd., for £281,250. The Fife company owns the capital of Dunfermline and District Traction Co. and Falkirk and District Traction Co.
• The S.M.T: concern is prepared to buy the whole issued share capital of the company, that is, 1,500,000 shares of 5s, each, fully paid, at the price of 3s. 9d. per share, free of all charges. The offer is conditional on acceptances being received from holders of not less than 90 per, cent, of the issued shares, or such smaller percentage as the S.M.T. may approve. The directors of the Fife concern are stated to have no hesitation in recommending the shareholders to accept the offer.
The S.M.T. has an issued capital of £1,858,434.
TILLING TRANSFER CLAIM SETTLED.
QN Monday last, the London PassenLger Transport Arbitration Tribunal approved a compromise settlement between London Transport and Thomas Tilling, Ltd„ and Tilling and British
Automobile Traction, Ltd. In November last, the Tribunal made an interim award, which excluded severance and apportionment claims.
For Thomas Tilling, it was submitted that the company's whole business was adversely affected by the transfer of the metropolitan bus under
taking to the Board. The original severance claim was for 4158,000 and had been revised to .£116,531, whilst the apportionment claim had been reduced from £20,613 to £20,113. A compromise figure, including the severance and apportionment claims, of £82,500, had, it was stated, been reached. The Tribunal decided to issue its award for the amount stated.
The earlier award to Thos. Tilling, Ltd., reported in our issue dated November 30, was for £1,750,000, although some £3,000,000 was claimed. •
Tilling and British Automobile Traction, Ltd.; a.n associated company, entered a claini for £313,195, this figure having been reduced by compromise to £166,093. . The Tribunal approved the settlement.