Operating Aspects of
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Passenger Transport
BIG HOURS MEETING IN LONDON TO-DAY
TTO-DAY (Friday) an important conference; representative of passengertransport operators and employees, will be held in London to discuss proposals to vary Section 19 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, concerning 'drivers' hours. As explained in Our issue dated December _28, the existing Variation Order expires in May next.
We understand that, at to-day's conference, representatives will be present from the Commercial Motor Users Association, the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association, Municipal Tramways and Transport Association. National Union of Railwaymen, OmnibusOwners Association, Tramways, Light Railways and Transport Association, and the Transport and General Workers Union.
GLASGOW-ABERDEEN SERVICE CHANGES HANDS.
THE sole operator on the Glasgow." Aberdeen route is now W. Alexander and Sons, Ltd., Falkirk. On January 24, the Southern Scotland Traffic Commissioners granted the Alexander concern permission to take over the bus service at present run between Glasgow and Aberdeen by Lowland Motorways, Ltd. The railway companies objected, but it was shown that the Lowland Motorways service touched certain points which the existing services of Alexander's and the railways did not touch.
INQUIRY INTO HULL'S LOSSES?
THE possibility of Hull's municipal transport undertakings becoming a charge on the rates was indicated at a meeting of the transport committee, on Monday. According to estimates, on the current financial year ending March 31 next there will probably be a deficit of £23,886, whilst the deficit for the ensuing year is likely to be 429,605.
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Mr. G. E. Mayfield said it became a question of whether they shduld call for a searching inquiry, if necessary by some outside authority. The general manager, Mr, D. P. Morrison, said that reinstatement of the cuts in the wages of the traffic staff accounted for an increase of £5,400. An impartial inquiry would show that there had been savings wherever possible.
It was decided to refer the estimates to a special meeting of the transport committee.
DUNDEE TRANSPORT WARNING.
AT a meeting of Dundee Transport Committee, on Monday, Treasurer Phin declared that, if the system were not made self-supporting, the committee would be heading for a deficit which would fall upon the rates, Councillor R. A. Scrymgeour, convener, stated that the only years in which the committee was able to put money to reserve were 1924-1927, when fares were much higher than they were now.
It was. stated that the total transport debt on which interest was paid was £270,000.
SOUTH WALES PIONEER DIES.
TIIE death has taken place of Mr. Thomas White. of Barry (Glam.), the founder and managing director of the well-known Cardiff and Barry bus concern, White's Motors, Ltd. Mr. White, who was 50 years of age, was a past chairman of the Motor Omnibus Proprietors' Association (South Wales and Mon.), of which he was a founder, and was a member of the committee of that organization.
He was a pioneer of coach and bus operation in Cardiff and Barry.
TICKET RESTRICTIONS: TIMPSON APPEAL FAILS.
THE Minister of Transport has dis missed the appeals of A. Tirnpson and Sons, Ltd., London, against the prohibition imposed by the SouthEastern Traffic Commissioners on the issue of single and period-return tickets on an express service from Paignton and Bournemouth to London. This condition applies only as regards traffic from Bournemouth to London. The appellant is to pay the costs.
It was stated at the hearing that the Timpson concern had held licences in Bournemouth since 1927 and, under them and subsequent backings, had always been able to issue tickets from the coast. Indeed, the company could still do so from all points west and south-west of Bournemouth.
CONCESSION FOR JUBILEE HOLIDAY
\WE understand that thc SouthIN Eastern Traffic Commissioners have agreed to dispense with compliance with the conditions of licences so far as may be necessary, to enable operators to run. on May 6 next, the Royal Jubilee Bank Holiday, any service which they would be entitled to work on August Bank Holiday:
The fares shall, however, be those authorized for services operated on May 6, where such charges differ from those authorized for similar services run on August Bank Holiday. If operators wish to run additional services, they should apply to the Commissioners, in the ordinary way, so soon as possible.
A notice of the concession will be published in the South-Eastern Traffic Commissioners' gazette, dated Febru
ary 2. The representations of the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association in this matter were exclu-sively revealed in the issue of Time Commercial Motor dated December 28. It is anticipated that similar concessions will be announced, at an early date, Its.: the other Commissioners.
RAILWAYS CHALLENGE MUNICIPAL BUS FARES.
nUNDEE Corporation's right to fix .1.-/bits fares on the Broughty-Ferry route has been challenged by the railway companies. The transport committee of Dundee Corporation approved a recommendation concerning fares, and the London and North-Eastern Railway Co., and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co., which are joint owners of the Dundee and Arbroath Joint Railway, have intimated that they are to oppose the ratification of these new fares.
This is the first time that the fares of a Scottish municipal bus undertaking on services inside the borough boundary, have been challenged by the railway companies.
The corporation will question the railways' right to be heard, and will point out that the Road Traffic Act gives local authorities a monopoly within their boundaries to fix such fares as they think fit.
The case will be heard by the Northern Scotland Traffic Commissioners, in Dundee, on February 28.
"NATIONAL'S" HIGHER PROFIT.
1111E report of the National Omnibus 1 and Transport Co., Ltd., for the year ended December 31, 1934, shows a profit of £42,635 (compared with £37,085 for 1933), the amount available, after adding the balance brought forward, being £88,669. The dividend on the preference shares absorbs £17,500, and an 8 per cent, dividend on the ordinary shares will account for a further £20,000.
After these amounts, plus an allocation of £5.000 to the general reserve, have been deducted, a balance of £46,169 remains to be carried forward.
SELLING PASSENGER TRANSPORT
THE subject of selling passenger transport was discussed by Mr. A. A. Jackson, general manager and engineer of St. Helens Corporation's transport department, at a meeting of the Manchester, Liverpool and District Section of the Institute of Transport, at Liverpool, last Friday. " It is possible to lose revenue if operating expenses be cut too low by deferring painting and maintenance," he said.
Although a good deal of travel was regular and was part of Our industrial life, a number of additional journeys could be sold. In other words, the enterprising undertaking might create the incentive to travel. It could not be too strongly indicated how desirable it was to have drivers and conductors who were keen on their employment.
Discussing services and traffic schedules, Mr. Jackson contended that there was no more useful means for encouraging travel than that of having a vehicle in sight ; even-spacing of the services was highly desirable. " Prominent notices as to transport facilities, fixed at the main termini, at route junctions, and at other particularly important loading points, are of considerable assistance," he added_ On the question of time-tables, which shouldbe sold for a nominal sum, Mr. Jackson recommended the distribution of complimentary copies to local works, amusement houses, etc. Another useful means for advertising was by the issue of route maps.
There should be a central traffic bureau where all inquiries dealing with local transport could be answered.
Pointing out that road-transport operators had been taught many lessons by the advertising schemes of the railway companies, Mr. W. Edwards suggested that it would be of great benefit to the road passengertransport industry if an association of operators were formed with the object of embarking upon advertising schemes to teach the public the superiority of road over railway travel. Mr. Jackson thought that if such a scheme were decided upon, it was a matter that should engage the attention of the manufacturers.
AMBULANCE CONTESTS IN SOUTH WALES.
AMEETING has taken place between passenger-transport operators in South Wales and representatives of the Priory of Wales Ambulance Services to arrange annual contests for ambulance trains of coach and bus companies. The Hon. John H. Bruce, the Priory principal secretary, presided, and a committee and officers for these competitions were appointed.
Mr. W. E. Gough, chairman of the Motor Omnibus Proprietors Association, was appointed chairman; Mr. William Forbes, general manager of Cardiff Corporation's transport undertaking, vice-chairman; Mr. C. Thomas, secretary of the M.O.P.A., committee secretary; and Mr. W. M. Abraham, competition secretary. The M.O.P.A. has offered a trophy for the annual national competition. The first event will take place on May 21.
OBJECTIONS TO STOPS BY TOURING COACHES.
()EJECTIONS to a touring coach Is./ picking up passengers at more than one point were heard before the Northern Scotland Traffic Commissioners, on January 24. Mr. C. McKerchar, of Freuchie, applied for the renewal of his licence for excursions and tours from Freuchie, with permission to pick up tourists at Falkland and Kingskettle.
The London and North Eastern Railway Co. objected on the ground that the applicant proposed to have three picking-up points. The chairman at a recent transport conference in London had said that the public must realize that, when it was taking
toach tours, it must go to the places where the tours began. Mr. McKerchar pointed out that Falkland and Kingskettle were about 13 mile from Freuchie, and Falkland was three miles from a railway station.
The licence was granted.
SINGLES AND PERIODS: INQUIRY THIS MONTH.
ON February 12, the question of the issue of single and period-return tickets on seasonal express services from the coast to London will again be raised in the South-Eastern Area. The Commissioners will hold a sitting at the Guildhall, London, S.W.1, on that date, at 30.30 a.m.
CROYDON ASSOCIATION DINNER.
THE annual dinner of the Croydon and District Motor Coach Owners Association will be held at the Greyhound Restaurant, Croydon, on March 14, at 7 p.m. Tickets, price 10s. 6d., may be obtained from Mr. S. D. Oddy, Speedway House, St. Nicholas Road. Sutton.
COMMISSIONERS CRITICIZED IN COURT
" rrHIS is evidently the Traffic Com
missioners' missioners' method of carrying Out their work, but, personally, I think it is all wrong." With this comment on the methods of the Northern Scotland Commissioners in detecting overcrowding on buses, Bailie Collyer found a charge proved at Kirkcaldy Police Court, on January 25, but de.. dinedto impose any penalty. A driver and conductress were charged with having permitted overcrowding.
The public-service-vehicle examiners boarded a bus in Kirkcaldy and took the number of the vehicle and of the conductress's badge. It was admitted that it would be difficult for the accused to remember the circumstances, when they were not charged until 17 days after the occurrence. The
examiners could not identify the driver or conductress in court.
Bailie Colly-er sympathized with the defendants. A similar decision vs-as given in the case of another driver and conductress charged with a similar offence.
RIBBLE CO-ORDINATION APPEAL SUCCEEDS.
HE Minister of Transport has up held the appeal of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., against the refusal of the North-Western Traffic Commissioners to revise the timing of the company's Liverpool-Bristol service. The application was made in accordance with an important co-ordination scheme with several other companies, which had been sanctioned in other areas. The hearing of the appeal was reported in our issue dated December 14.
The company's appeal against the action of the Commissioners in limiting the Liverpool-Cheltenham service to operation only from May to October, instead of throughout the year, has failed.
PROTECTION APPEAL DISMISSED
drIN appeal, Portsmouth Corporation
has been refused increased protection. The municipality appealed against the South-Eastern Traffic Commissioners' action in granting nine licences to Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., it being held that inadequate protection was provided for the corporation's transport undertaking.
The Southdown company lodged a counter-appeal against the Commissioners' decision to giant the corporation a licence for a circular service.
The Minister has decided that no case was made out for increased protection. He states that the effect of certain innovations proposed to be introduced by the corporation, with the object of increasing revenue and decreasing costs, should be awaited before Jhe question of raising the Southdown company's fares in Portsmouth is further considered.
JOINT WORKING FOR BURY CORPORATION.
UNDER a new arrangement, which will become operative on July 1 next, Bury Corporation will be responsible for the provision of road transport in Radcliffe for the next 15 years. The existing scheme has been in force for 30 years arid has resulted in a financial loss to Bury Corporation.
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Under th new agreement, which has been ap roved by Bury Transport ICommittee and the Radcliffe authority, profits or losses will be shared. A joint managing sub-committee is to be established and buses will mainly be used.
BATTER -ELECTRICBUSES SUCCESSFUL IN FRANCE. HE muni ipaI authorities of Lyons, France, iave, since 1925, been operating ir that city 16 battery electric si gle-deck buses. The vehicles ha proved so satisfactory that an adilitional 28 buses of the Vetra type have recently been acquired. The new vehicles follow the general lines of modern petrol buses.
PIONEER FIRM SELLS OUT.
WITH the transfer of the bus underVV taking o Mr. A. Lord, of Burbage, to the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co,, Ltd., a business that has been in Mr Lord's family for many years has passed out of existence. Mr. Lord's lath r commenced the undertaking with horse-drawn brakes, and the present fleet now numbers 14 motorbuses.
LIVERPOOL REQUIRES 42 OILERS
FURTHER to a report in our issue dated January 18, Liverpool Corporation's passenger-transport committee, last Friday, approved the remainder of the recommendations of Mr. W. G. Marks, the general manager, concerning the reorganization of the undertaking.
The portion of the report agreed to last Friday included a recommendation for the replacement of buses. It was
decided to obtain tenders for the supply of 42 oil-engined vehicles, as part of the plan for the purchase of 120 vehicles during the next three years.
POTTERIES WAGE AGREEMENT.
ANEW agreement for bus workers has been reached between the Transport and General Workers Union and the independent operators in the Potteries district. Drivers will be paid up to is. 3d. an hour, whilst conductors will receive up to 1s. (lid. per hour for a guaranteed minimum week of 48 hours. Holidays with pay will be provided.
LOWER FARES TO PORTSMOUTH?
FARES on the London-Portsmouth route will be considered at a meeting of No. 2 Regional Committee, at the Holborn Restaurant, London, W,C,2, on February 8, at 11 a.m. Some of the operators on the route wish to reduce the fares.
USE OF TROLLEYBUSES URGED.
BELFAST Corporation's tramways committee was, last week, again urged to give careful consideration to the question of replacing some of the tramcars by trolleybuses. The matter has been under review, from time to time, during the past two years. •
NO, 41 COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER FARES PROPOSALS.
AT a meeting at the Town Hall, Ipswich, on February 18, at 2.30 p.m., No. 6 (East) Regional Committee will consider the proposals put forward by a meeting of coach operators, some weeks ago, concerning the expediting of ;the procedure for the variation of fares.