Operating Aspects of
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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
REVIEWING BUSSEASON CHARGES RECENTLY, Glasgow Corporation decided to increase the cost of weekly bus tickets from Ss. to 3s. 661., but last week the corporation transport committee received a communication from the Traffic Commissioners pointing out that the whole question of increased charges for bus seasons was at present being considered by a subcommittee of the Ministry of Transport, which was dealing with the matter on a national basis.
The corporation's application to increase the cost of bus seasons, therefore, would not be considered until the decision of the Minister of Transport is announced.
The raising of the price of bus seasons was the only amendment in the bus fares which was included in the recent revision of Glasgow municipaltransport charges, designed to improve the financial position of the undertaking.
OVER £4,000 PRQFIT FROM BUSES IN NINE MONTHS nURING the period from April 1 to LI December 31, 1939, an approximate net profit of £4,275 was made on the municipal buses at Eastbourne: this figure is slightly higher than that for the comparable period of 1938. During the nine months, 11,503,510 passengers were carried on the buses, roughly, 50,000 fewer than in the 1938 period.
HUDDERSFIELD BUSES HELP TROOPS' ENTERTAINMENT
TWO buses have been lent by Huddersfield Corporation to the local Entertainment for the Troops Committee, and they will shortly commence a tour of military units in the Northern Command. Both vehicles (a 20-seater and a 32-seater) have been specially fitted out for entertainment work, one being converted into what is
really a mobile theatre. • Appreciation of the generosity of the Huddersfield Corporation was expressed by Mr. Alan H. Simpson, Public Relations Officer for the Northern Command, who told The Commercial Motor that he hoped other corporations might feel impelled to provide buses to assist in the entertainment of men on the Home Front.
COMMISSIONER SANCTIONS "PICKING-UP " SCHEME
AFTER discussion between the interests concerned; Mr. J. H. Stirk, Regional Transport Commissioner, has granted permission to Barton Transport, Ltd., to pick up passengers on its buses at all corporation stopping places between Imperial Road. Beeston, and the White Hart
A28 , Hotel, Nottingham, at double the fares charged by the corporation, inclusive of workmen's and children's fares.
The Commissioner had received certain protests because the Barton buses had refused to pick-up passengers waiting for a municipal bus, even when seats were available, but to do so would have meant a contravention of the condition of the company's road service licence.
TODMORDEN'S BUS SURPLUS 'THE annual abstract of accounts for 1 Todmorden shows a surplus on the municipal buses of £8,533, out of which £6,555 is contributed to the relief of rates.
DARWEN'S NEW BUSES
SUBJECT to road service permits by the Regional Transport Commissioner, the cost of five additional double-deck buses for Damen Corporation is to be met by taking £4,300 from the transport appropriation account, the balance to be on loan from the rates.
BURNLEY NEEDS BUS STATION
AT a meeting of Burnley Town Council, it was reported that the chief constable had emphasized the need for a central bus station. People were having to stand about for long periods, and he asked the watch committee, in spite of the expense, to give attention to the question. Alderman Nuttall said the matter would be considered.
WAR-TIME BUS-STATION CHARGES
1N view of restricted services now in operation, Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., has been in touch with the markets superintendent of Bolton for a reduction in the charges for the use of the bus station by the company's vehicles. The markets committee has agreed that, as from, and including the quarter ended December 31, 1939, the charges for the use of the station by Ribble buses should be at the rate of 1.2d. per scheduled bus visit.
OMNIBUS SOCIETY RE-ELECTIONS
(IN the occasion of the annual N/general meeting of the Omnibus Society, Mr. Charles E. Lee was reelected chairman, Mr. E. Moffatt, hon. treasurer, and Mr. Charles F. Klapper (45, Crest Road, Hayes, Bromley, Kent), hon. secretary. Messrs. J. G. Baker, H. G. Chambers, W. L. Cox, P. Gomes, F. J. Grirnoldby, J. F. Higham. W. Noel Jackson, L. M. R. Nicholson and I. Watkin were elected to the Council.
In the annual report it was pointed out that, although the activities of the Society were necessarily modified by present circumstances, they continued to be of value to students.
COSTS INROADS INTO BUS REVENUE
DIFFICULTIES of operating public 1/transport services on a profitable basis in these days were referred to by Mr. R. H. Baker, chairman of the tramways and transport committee, at last week's meeting of Plymouth City Council. Drawing attention to a profit of £16,473 shown by the municipal undertaking for the first nine months of the financial year, he warned the council that that sum was not likely to be realized at the end of the period, bemuse of inroads made by increased costs.
He mentioned that up to now the city transport services had been reduced by nearly 22 per cent., compared with what they were before the war, and that the undertaking had asked the council for a revision of the fares. He hoped that at the end of the financial year there might be some small residue of the savings intact.
HEXHAM SEEKING BETTER BUS SERVICES
discuss complaints against the rialleged inadequate bus service operated by the United Automobile Services, Ltd., between Allenheads and Hexham, Hexham (Northumberland) Rural Council has agreed to meet the Regional Traffic Commissioner. The council has discussed the question of reinstating the Hexham to Corbridge, via Beaufront, service, the withdrawal of which, it was stated, was causing considerable inconvenience to the travelling public. It was agreed that this matter also be discussed with the Traffic Commissioner,
LINING UP BUS FARES AT BOURNEMOUTH
SUBjECT to the approval of the Traffic Commissioners, new fares will be introduced on Bournemouth trolleybuses as from March 1. Since the trolleybuses were introduced into the town, fares on many of them have been cheaper than on the petrol buses. The proposal will make the fares uniform on both classes of service.
COACH BOOKING-OFFICE PLANS AT PORTSMOUTH TOLLOWING a letter received from the Portsmouth and District Coach Owners Association, Portsmouth Beach Committee has agreed that tenders for renting tee motor-coach booking offices will be reissued in May, in view of the uncertain conditions prevailing. The present agreements are to be extended so that existing tenants may open the booking offices at Easter.
TICKET-ISSUING MACHINES GIVE SATISFACTION
QATISEACTION with 160 T. I. NI.
ticket-issuing machines used on the passenger vehicles of Cardiff Corporation has led to an order for a further 50 machines for use on the buses and trams. The transport general manager states that the machines have been the means for saving time and labour.