Comm . er £350,000 Orders from Holland
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I N the face of strong competition from British and Continental manufacturers, the Rootes Group has secured orders worth more than 050,000 for the supply of Commer 1+-ton vans to the Dutch nationalized railways.
An initial order for 160 vans followed a six-month test period during which Van Gend en Loos, operators of the fleet on behalf of the railways, compared the performance of two Connmers with representative vehicles from four other factories. A second order for 215 Commers followed and a third for 150 more was lodged recently.
The 525 delivery vans will comprise the largest single-make fleet in Holland. The Commas have petrol engines. Righthand drive has been retained to give the driver easy access to the kerb when making deliveries. The van bodies offer 300 Cu. ft. of cargo space and have a number of detailed modifications to meet local requirements.
FEWER COMMERCIAL VEHICLES ON MAIN ROADS
THE traffic census taken between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. during the week ended on August 18 last year revealed that 2 per cent, fewer light goods vehicles and slightly fewer buses and coaches were using trunk and Class 1 roads than in the corresponding period of the year before.
In total the traffic flow was 4 per cent. heavier than in 1956, the greatest single increase being of motorcycles (13 per cent.). Private cars showed a 5-per-cent. increase during the period.
Figures published by the Ministry of Transport indicate that an estimated 630 vehicle-miles were travelled by all groups during the week, of which nearly half were on urban roads.
On weekdays about 30 per cent. of the travel was by goods vehicles, but several divisions of the Ministry reported a decrease by this group over the previous year.
HIPPO MALT CARRIER: LOADED TIPPED
ATIPPING malt carrier based on a Leyland Hippo chassis has been placed in service by the Ipswich Malting Co.. Ltd., after completing loading and discharging tests. The Bonallack 920cu-it., body can take a load of 10 tons 16+ cwt. of either loose or bagged malt.
Difficulty of trimming the load has been overcome by providing an inlet in the front bulkhead to enable the enclosed body to be loaded in the tipped position. Discharging tests carried out with a load of barley showed that nearly 40 per cent of the contents could be discharged with the body horizontal, a further 20 per cent. when tipped at 15' and completely at 35'.
Discharge flow is controlled by singlehanded mechanical operation of the rear sliding gate without need for lowering the tailboard. Telehoist Telelever gear is fitted. Recent investigations into fares in Co, Durham, said Mr. Hanlon, had shown that, whilst licensed operators had to charge between 30s. and 35s. for excursions to Blackpool, private hire coaches were running for as little as 20s.
Mr. B. G. Montgomery, for the applicants, said a similar service was run by Mr. J. S. Mowbray until 1950, when it was acquired by General Omnibus Services, Chester-le-Street, who gave it up in September, 1956. A Mr. Tyman ran it for a few days and it then ceased.
Under pressure from the Commksioners, General Omnibus Services ran again under short-term licence until December 1, 1956, hut the service then ceased altogether. As a result the 2,000 population of Burnhopc had been without a direct bus service to Durham.