.T ups mileage and
Page 25
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cuts waiting time
GNIFICANT improvements in )th the quality and quantity of is services were reported in mdon Transport's Annual Re)rt for 1980 published this eek.
LT Chairman Sir Peter Mese)ld called 1980 a year of many .oblems and changes and in s foreword to the report said at despite financial strictures .eventing LT from providing as equent and comprehensive a Irvice as everyone would wish, e priority is "to ensure that hat is done is done well and in )rticular to set performances .3fore promises."
LT operated173mbus miles last ?ar — 8m more than in 1979 id above the target set by the reater London Council. Buses id the Underground earned 173m revenue which covered i per cent of costs.
After taking into account GLC ants of £150m, LT achieved a irplus total income of E1 .1m in 180.
Last year's additional bus iles were operated at no more an marginal extra cost beuse, according to the report, ey were the result of the forts of works and supplies 3ff in reducing shortages of echanical units and parts, and e enthusiasm of the new strict managment teams lich led to better bus availabiland maintenance standards. Loss of service through nonailability of buses was only 1.6
cent, and averaged pasnger waiting time was reiced from 8.3 minutes in 1979 7.7 minutes in 1980.
The effects of traffic congestn on bus services are also em phasised in the report. For example, if bus speeds possible on Saturday mornings could be achieved during Monday to Fridays LT, could save £60m a year or frequencies could be increased by 15 per cent.
Illegally parked cars meant that some buses had to be permanently diverted as they could not get through certain streets.
Each bus mile operated in 1980 cost E2 and earned E1.20, the report stated — a deficit of 80p.
During 1980 LT took delivery of 300 new MCW Metrobus double deckers, and 100 Leyland Titans left over from the 1979 Park Royal contract.
In March last year the GLC authorised LT to buy 500 new buses in 1981 as the first instalment of 2,000 needed up to 1984. The 1981 order comprised 69 Leyland National Mark 2 single-deckers, 150 Leyland Titans, and 300 MCW Metro buses.