PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
Page 19
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World, ALL-NIGHT OMNIBUSES IN MADRID.
Details of the Latest Type of Vehicle to be Put Into Service in the Spanish Capital, Where a Continuous Day and Night Service is Being Maintained all the Year Round.
WE had occasion to refer, in our issue dated March 18th last year to the fact that Messrs. De Dion Bouton, of Paris, had obtained an important contract for the supply of motor omnibuses to the city of Madrid. The Madrid Motor Omnibus Co., known as the " S.G.A.," ordered 110 buses from the company, and the bulk of this contract has now been completed. Three lines of buses are already in full operation and
the opening of further services is contemplated at an early date. A remarkable feature of the Madrid bus services is‘the fact that they run continuously day and night all the year round. Contrary to the custom in Paris and other Continental cities, there is no increase in fares during the night hours, IC spite of the reduced number of pus. sengers which, naturally, are carried. The present lines run from the Puerta del Sol to the Cuatro Caminos, from the Puerta del Sol to the Plaza de Espana, and from the Plaza del Callao to Cibeles Antocha.
The buses are mounted on examples 'of the De Dion overtype chassis. Special attention has been given to the springing which is as supple as that of a touring ear. • This is a necessity, in view of the
condition of some of the roads in the Spanish capital. Madrid, undoubtedly, has some of the worst street surfaces of any great city in Europe. Needless to say, all the new omnibuses are mounted on pneumatic tyres, twins being fitted at the rear.
The bodies fitted are 35-passenger single-deckers, which are arranged for carrying one class of passenger only and not first and second class as in so many buses used in Continental cities. The usual platform system is employed, but in a greatly improved form. The rear extension carrying the platform is completely enclosed within the body so that the strap-hangers and post-clingers are protected from the weather.
The interior of the body is provided with seats for 28 passengers, and the platform is designed to accommodate seven standing passengers. All the buses are fitted with electric lighting and equipped with front-wheel brakes.
The general characteristics of the chassis are too well known to need description. It is the standard De Dion overtype model with a four-cylinder engine with a bore of 110 rani. and a stroke of 150 min., a four-speed gearbox and bevel drive.