Warning About Falling Traffic, Rising Congestion, from London Transport
Page 48
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THE il.4m. margin left from net receipts during 1960, after all charges had been paid, was by normal commercial standards still below the level needed to put the undertaking in a sound. financial position. This is stated in the 1960 Annual Report of the London Transport Executive. The margin in 1959 was /30,000.
The 1960 result was largely due to considerable savings in working road services owing to the shortage of crews. and to the increased earnings of the smaller number of buses which were in operation. This position could not be allowed to continue. It would not be reasonable to look forward to a continuance of such high earnings if the quality of services offered on the roads was to remain as poor as it was in many areas in 1960.
Problems relating to staff shortages were among the principal ones which faced London Transport last year. Two pay rises, in March and October. materially improved the position towards the end of the year, and this continued into 1961. Although there was still a seriou.s shortage of operating staff it had been possible, with the co-operation of drivers and conductors in overtime and rest-day working, to bring services nearer to an acceptable standard.
Passengers carried on London Transport road services last year were 2,593m., compared with 2,756m. in 1959. Traffic on the Underground railway continued to grow, being attributed among other things to a transfer of n I passengers from " the depleted bus services labouring under crew shortage and street congestion."
The problem of the roads was a picture of a relentless rise in traffic and worsening congestion, despite the completion of major road works. Buses were delayed more in 1960 than the previous year. The provision of parking meters had reduced congestion, and improved journey times for buses by up to 4 per cent.
Work on various projects aimed at reducing fuel consumption had continued. It had been found that after use for some 30,000 miles the oxidationinhibited castor oil used as a rear axle lubricant was still capable of effecting a 2 per cent. saving in fuel. Wholly synthetic oil for worm-driven axles was very resistant to deterioration in service and was now in use in some 260 buses.
LEYLAND OUTPUT INCREASED I EYLAND MOTORS, LTD., report 1--• that they are exporting some 60 per cent. of their total output of heavy commercial vehicles. During the first eight months of this year output of complete chassis was more than 12 per cent. greater than for the same period in 1960. Production of vehicles for the home market was 5 per cent, higher, and for export some20 per cent. higher.
NEW TYRE DEPOT
DROWN BROTHERS' tyre department L..) in Liverpool now operates from a new building in Kent Street, close behind the company's main premises in Duke Street.