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BUS PROFITS FROM THE SEA

19th May 1950, Page 38
19th May 1950
Page 38
Page 39
Page 40
Page 38, 19th May 1950 — BUS PROFITS FROM THE SEA
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Yarmouth and Lowestoft have to Deal with Summer Peak Problems. The Presence of a Fishing Industry and Sport Enables These Small Undertakings to Provide Good Services and to Draw Fair Profits

yARMO. UTH and Lowestoft municipal undertakings, although small, are good examples of the _ attention to local needs which control on the spot

can foster so efficiently. Lowestoft is particularly surprising,. With, in reality, only one route, and possessing 17 buses, it has very low fares and seasonal fluctuations and yet makes a substantial profit.

. Both undertakings have a common peculiarity. Like those in all seaside resorts, they are busy at Easter and at their wit's end for vehicles from Whitsun to September, if the weather be good. But in this case they are also greatly exercised in October, November and the first week in December, catering for the thousands of Scots who descend upon them for the fishing season. This invasion is more pronounced in Yarmouth than in Lowestoft.

The topography of Yarmouth is unusual, as the town is practically bisected by the estuary of the Yare. The narrow peninsula on the east between the Yare and the sea is what is usually. called Yarmouth, whilst the other side is regarded as Gorleston. It was on the western side from Gorleston Station to the Haven Bridge that horsed trams were first operated in 1875. These were owned by the Yarmouth and Gorleston Tramways Co„ Ltd., from 1878. The system was bought and electrified by Yarmouth Corporation in 1905.

The corporation had previously started electric services on June 19, 1902, running from Wellington Pier to Newtown and Vauxhall, and short extensions had been made in 1904-5. A further extension to Caister in May, 1907, completed the system, which always suffered from the drawback of being in two parts, for tracks were not laid over the Haven swingbridge.

Difficulties of operation, a legacy of the first world war, resulted in an experiment in 1922, with three second-hand London General buses. Success with these led to further purchases. Abandonment of the trams followed and was continued piecemeal from 1925 onwards. A new Haven Bridge enabled a through service of buses to be worked to Gorleston, and the last tram in the borough ran on December 14, 1933. The maximum tramcar fleet numbered 35.

During the war Yarmouth was practically deserted; 12 buses were lent to Coventry, and those that remained nearly all suffered damage when the garage was bombed. Since 1945, the lost ground has been more than made up. The depot has been reconstructed and new buses have been bought. The present fleet numbers 57, comprising 33 Leyland, 14 A.E.C. and 10 Guy vehicles. Four of the A.E.C. buses were not in use in December, 1949, and were for sale.

Apart from these, all the vehicles are oilers, and the whole fleet consists of double-deckers. Every bus is upholstered in leather in preference to moquette, because it is considered more suitable for the many workers in the fishing industry who travel to and from work at peak hours. Winter services requirements are met by 38 vehicles. The number of passengers carried has grown from 1,306,000 in 1902-3 to 16,432,000 in 1948-9. Last year the vehicles ran 1,368,900 miles.

One feature of the fares, which are still at pre-war levels and start at ld., is that scholars' and workers' tickets are sold in books of 12. The scholars' tickets cost 6d. for 12 and each is available or any 11-d. stage at school hours. The workers' tickets cost is. a dozen and each is valid on weekdays for any gd. stage up to 9 a.m. between 12.30 p.m. and 2.15 p.m. and from 5 p.m to 6.45 p.m.

During the winter, the evening peak period is from 4.30 p.m. to 6.45 p.m. The midday concession is important in a town where most people are able to go home for lunch. TIM. and Ultimate ticket machines are in use, and the method of dealing with the concession tickets is to issue an ordinary I id. ticket for each one collected.

Three services are entirely suspended in winter and headways are opened out on two others. The problem of seasonal labour is partly dealt with by having a number of conductor-drivers. These work as conductors during the winter and drivers in the summer, when a few of their places on the platforms are taken by women. About 60 additional men and women are employed during the holiday season.

On the engineering side, the winter slack season is used for complete overhauling and repainting, a rota being arranged so that each vehicle comes in for major attention about every 18 months. In the summer the machine-shop staff is largely employed in the reclamation and building up of components. Mr. H. A. Blackburn, M.Inst.T., Assoc. I.E.E., is general manager and engineer of the undertaking.

Lowestoft, as I have already said, has only 17 buses, 11 A.E.C. and six Guy, all oil-engined, double-deckers. Only nine are used in the winter, yet last year the vehicles ran 458,683 miles and carried 6,604,950 passengers. The system is basically the same as in the tramway days, when the only route was from the North Station to Pakefield. This was opened on July 22, 1903, and closed on May. 8, 1931, buses taking over the following day. The tram fleet totalled 16, 12 being double-deckers and four single-deckers. Only eight were used in the winter, so that the fleet capacity has not changed much Buses, however, have revolutionized the department's financial position, despite the concessions given. It is still possible to ride about a mile for Id., and a " workman,"—a very elastic term—can ride the whole length of the present routes for 1d. until 8 am,, between 4.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. from Monday to Friday or 12 noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Legless ex-Servicemen and the blind are carried free on both undertakings.

Since the introduction of buses, there has been an extension at the Pakcfield end to Elm Tree Cross Roads (Bloodrnoor Lane) and at the northern end there are now three fantails, one to Gunton Lane, one to Conon Golf Links and one to Tedder Road.

Tags

People: H. A. Blackburn
Locations: Coventry, Newtown

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