O Metro-Cammell Bus
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• Orders Doubled
IN 1961 the Metropolitan-Cammell
Carriage and Wagon Co., Ltd., of Birmingham, received orders for bus bodywork and Olympic integral-construction buses amounting to twice the value of those received in 1960. The commercial vehicle division of the concern's activities, created largely to counteract the tendency for orders for railway rolling stock to diminish, received orders for a wide variety of bodies. These included vehicles for carrying various liquids, tilt and tipping bodies, fire-fighting vehicles, vans and containers. Production also began of the company's integralconstruction van semi-trailers.
These facts are revealed in the annual report of Vickers, Ltd., who have a 50 per cent. shareholding in the MetropolitanCammell concern. Bus products of both the Metropolitan-Cammell company and Weymann's, Ltd., of Addlestone, Surrey, are marketed through Metropolitan Cammell-Weymann, Ltd. •
Lengthened Coach .
rAA CONVERSION of a 1952 Leyland Royal Tiger with Plaxton Venturer 41-seater body to take advantage of current length regulations has been carried out by Sparshatts (Motor Bodies), Ltd., Millbrook Trading Estate, Southampton.
The original 15 ft. 7 in. wheelbase has been extended by 1 ft. 7 in. and a further 1 ft. 11 in. has been added to the rear overhang. The original overall length of 29 ft. 111 in. has been increased to 33ft. 51 in., the maximum practicable having regard to overhang and turning circle requirements. The seating capacity has been increased to 49.
• BELFAST LOSING 1200 DAILY
BELFASrS new 2d. flat fare scheme .s losing about £200 a day, and the general manager of the transport department, Mr. J. Mackie, says that the target for passengers has not been reached. To achieve the revenue that existed before the scheme was introduced a few weeks ago more than 50,000 passengers are needed each day, he says.
EQUIPMENT "PRICE CUTTING"
" NEVER before have we experienced such selective price cutting by competitors in those instances where we are established suppliers," said Mr. G. E. Liardet, chairman and managing director 3f Simms Motor and Electronics Corporaion, Ltd., in his annual statement. The :ompany's largest subsidiary, Simms Motor Units, Ltd., had, he said, been idversely affected in its results for the year by a number of unfavourable 'actors.
He said he was disappointed to see the ipparent change of Government policy ni monopolies, which appeared to conlone the domination of whole industries )y vast organizations, to the detriment )f medium-sized manufacturers and later in to the detriment of the economy. TRANSPORT ON THE RATES?
I N a debate on the Corporation's trans port accounts two Labour members of Coventry City Council declared that the time was approaching when transport would have to be a service to the city paid for from the rates.
A former member of the transport committee, Councillor W. Spencer, said the day would come when transport would have to operate like the libraries, as a civic service. Councillor R. Loosley said the time was rapidly approaching when it would be a question of whether the transport service should be " for the city. depending on the rates." .CONDUCTORS BAN STANDING
BUS conductors in the Greenock area have decided to ban standing passengers on the 72-seater vehicles recently introduced there_ They have offered the management the alternative of providing two fare collectors on the new buses, which accommodate 12 more passengers than the older type. The matter is to be taken up between the T.G.W.U. and the Kilmarnock headquarters of the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd.
Eight of the new buses are in service, and a further three have arrived at the company's Inchgreen depot.