The Turn of Road Passenger Transport
Page 26
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THE purchase by the British Transport Commission of a large and most important group of companies operating in the passenger-transport field is particularly interesting, as being indicative of one of the ways in „which this form of transport is to be nationalized.
Many people in the industry and, incidentally, outside it, had presumed that because only a comparatively small part of the Transport Act was devoted to road passenger transport, those engaged in that field could count with some confidence upon their freedom for a considerable period. It was believed that the B.T.C. and the particular Executive concerned would be far too busily engaged in gathering together the strings in the haulage sphere to bother for the time being with concerns running buses.
In this case, it happens that the organization in question also has big interests in haulage, and it may well be that the taking over of the passenger side, large as it is, was incidental to the acquisition of the goods-carrying section. It therefore remains to be seen whether the process will soon be carried much farther or if other operators engaged solely in this field will not be affected until considerably later; some negotiations are, however, in progress.
The original conception of the control of passenger transport under nationalization was the formation of joint boards in suitable areas. There were certain arguments as to how these should be constituted, a large section of municipal transport managers being of the opinion that the control should be mainly in the hands of local authorities.
However, with a considerable number of operating concerns under its immediate control, the Road Transport Executive will be in a position to gain what, to it, will be valuable experience in this class of work, and it will no doubt help it to form an opinion as to the eventual link-up of the individual concerns.
For some time to come, there will probably be few changes amongst the operators thus concerned. The organization now being abztorbed has been in existence for a considerable period and is markedly successful, as is indicated by the value attached to the fleets and their profit-earning capacity, combined with the good will which they have won.