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PASSENGEk TRANSPORT
NEW I.F.S. SAFETY REGULATIONS
r XTENSIVE safety regulations for ._...:buses • and coaches were issued on Monday night by the Irish Free State Minister for Local Government, The regulations require that every vehicle shall be adequately ventilated when the windows are closed. Fuel tanks must be placed so that no overflow can fall upon any woodwork or accumulate where it is likely to become ignited, and the filling point of the fuel tank must be outside the vehicle body.
Carburetters and apparatus associated therewith. shall be so placed that no fuel leaking can fall upon any fitting capable of igniting it. The exhaust-pipe outlet must be placed on the off side and far enough to. the rear to prevent, so •far as possible, fumes from entering the vehicle.
Every vehicle must be equipped with adequate fire-extinguishing apparatus. Buses on which 1s. or more is charged for a single journey, and coaches, must carry first-aid dressings and appliances.
During the hours of peak traffic, or in circumstances where undue hardship would be caused, buses may carry a greater number of passengers than would otherwise be lawful. Such additiona,1 passengers, however, must not exceed five, or a quarter the seating accommodation, whichever is the lesser. ' The maximum overall length of a four-wheeled double-deck bus shall not exceed 26 ft. No single-decker shall exceed 10 ft. 6 ins. in height, and no double-decker shall exceed 15 ft. in height. All vehicles must have efficient speedometers.
The petrol tank shall not be filled, nor shall any filler cap be removed, while the engine is running. Provision itust be made to prevent interior lights from interfering with the driver's E42 . clear view of the road, and no seat shall be constructed on the right-hand side of the driver's seat.
PAISLEY TRANSPORT REORGANIZATION.
A REVISION of Paisley (Renfrew1-11, shire) transport will beCome operative on October 1, when the Paisley and Disttict Omnibus Co., Ltd„ will extend its system to incorporate
the Gallowhill area. Working on a basis of loops, each vehicle will proceed through four housing estates and cover the main shopping and business areas. A new terminal point will be created near the centre of the town.
The Paisley and District Omnibus Co., Ltd., is a subsidiary of Messrs. Young's Bus Service, the large Henfrewshire and Ayrshire concern,
DEATH OF MR. J. LEAVESLE Y.
WE regret to announce the death, VV which occurred late onMonday night, after a long illness, of Mr. James Leavesley, a Blackpool pioneer both in the coach and road-haulage spheres. He founded the coach and haulage concern of Leavesley Bros., Ltd., at the end of the war, and was an original member, the first president and sole life vice-president of the Blackpool and District Motor Coach Owners Association. On the goods side, Mr. Leavesley, who was 58 years of age, was first president of the Blackpool and District Road Haulage Association, and a member of the executive of the Commercial Motcir Users Association and of the North-Western Area Conciliation Board. He was a member of Blackpool Town Council for six years.
A new trolleybus service between Denton Burn and Wallsend will be inaugurated, on September 28, by Newcastle-on-Tyne Corporation.
C.M.U.A. SUPPORTS RIBBLE CO.
OBJECTIONS by Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., to the proposed closing of certain roads in the Trough of Bowland to public-service vehicles is being supported by the Commercial Motor Users Association North Western Division.
The committee of the division, which includes the areas of Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Burnley, Bolton, Blackburn and East Lancashire, is being reorganized and reduced to a workable size.
WILL " CROSVILLE " WIN MERSE TUNNEL DISPUTE?
THE question of bus operation through the Mersey Tunnel will again be raised at -a special sitting of the North-Western Traffic Commissioners, in Liverpool, on October
and S. An application by Crosvillo Motor Services, Ltd., to operate from Liverpool to Mold, through the tunnel, which has been held in abeyance since December last, will again come before the Commissioners, and Liverpool and Birkenhead Corporations, which opposed it, will have to substantiate their objections.
PUBLIC APPROVES TRAMWAYS ABANDONMENT.
THE change-over in Bradford from tramcars to trolleybuses and motorbuses " has been well received by the public and is fully justified financially," remarks Mr. C. R. Tattarn, Bradford Corporation's transport manager, in his
annual report. The change-over, he adds, " has also, to a very great extent, relieved us of the difficulties attending the undesirable, but sometimes tizi avoidable, practice of superimposing on one service other services of a different character."
TRENT CO. TAKING OVER MORE ROUTES
vypTH the approval of the East W Midland traffic Commissioners, interesting developments are expected to take place, towards the end of next month, in the transport arrangements in the Nottingham, Huckuall and
Mansfield districts. At present, the Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., operates intensive services from Nottingham to Mansfield, via Hucknall and Sutton, as well as a local service from Nottingham to Hucknall.
Subject to the transfer of the licences, it is • understood that the Trent concern is to take over the undertaking previously operated between Nottingham, Hucknall and Sutton by Dutton's Unity Services, Ltd.
In addition, arrangements have been made for Nottingham Corporation's service from Nottingham to Hucknall market place to be taken over by the Trent concern, subject to the transfer of the licences. These two services are expected to be taken over towards the end of October.
The Trent organization has also acquired the business of Mrs. Butler, who previously operated a local stage service between Sutton-in-Ashfield and Annesley Woodhouse.
ST. HELENS TRANSPORT IN THE PUBLIC EYE.
I AST week, St. Helens Borough 1-/Council celebrated the centenary of local government and invited the public to inspect the various municipal departments. An interesting illustrated brochure was prepared for distribution to visitors inspecting the trolleybus depot and motorbus garage, the publication outlining briefly the history of the municipal-transport undertaking since 1881 and describing the equipment of the depots.
WARRINGTON BUSES AGAIN SHOW A PROFIT.
IN the year ended March 31, 1935, a gross profit of 212,713 was made on the operation of the 36 buses—mainly Leylands—of Warrington Corporation, income having totalled £50,923 and working expenses £38,210. After meeting interest and income-tax charges, the net profit amounted to £12,852, compared with £13,071 in the previous year. During the past year the buses covered an aggregate mileage of 753,463 and carried 10,425,158 passengers.
SERVICES CUT TOO DRASTICALLY.
HOW the reduction of bus services may lead to difficulty when, afterwards, permission is sought to increase the same services, was illustrated •at Leeds, last week, when the Kippax Motor Co. appealed against the decision of the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners to grant to the West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd., added journeys on the Kippax and Castleford route.
It was explained that, in 1934, as an experiment, the West Riding concern reduced services. Afterwards, complaints were received by the Traffic Commissioners and the company. In consequence, the company applied for the increase in services which was the subject of the appeal. The company realized that it had erred in making the reductions too drastic, HIGHER WAGES FOR GLASGOW MEN?
ASUB-COMMITTEE of Glasgow Corporation has decided that the wages Of bus conductors should be increased by Is. per week to 63s. per week, involving an additional annual expenditure of £1,400.
It is reported that concessions granted in recent years to transport employees have cost the corporation £110,000, excluding the present recommendation of an increase in bus conductors' wages. The conductors have requested an increase to 64s. per week.
£160,000 TROLLEYBUS ORDER AWARDED.
ABIG contract for trolleybuses has been given out by Portsmouth City Council, which has ordered 76 chassis from the English Electric Co., Ltd.. and bodies from Craven's Railway Carriage and Wagon Co., Ltd. To meet the cost of the vehicles and overhead equipment, application is to be made for sanction to borrow £159,350.
OIL-FUEL TAX HITS ABERDEEN'S SYSTEM
I N the year ended May 31, 1935, the buses of Aberdeen Corporation were operated at a gross profit of £16,509, the net figure, after deducting interest and sinking-fund charges, being £9255. The total revenue• athounted -to £124,389 and working expenses to £107,880. During the year the buses, of which there are 88 (Mainly of Albion and Crossley makes) covered an aggregate mileage of 2,749,508, and carried 25,838,454 passengers.
An interesting sidelight on the taxation question is revealed by the fact that the increase from Id. to 8d. per gallon on oil fuel will mean an addition to the working expenses of the bus section of £3,400 per annum, To be deducted from this figure is the sum of 21,440, which represents the equali
zation of the Road Fund licences for oil and petrol vehicles. The increase will reduce the saving in operation of the oil-engined buses, compared with the petrol vehicles, from 2.132d. to 1.335d. per mile.
ROAD TRAFFIC ACT SIMPLIFIES CO-ORDINATION PROPOSALS.
BUS powers that would have required three Acts of Parliament before the passing of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, were granted within the space of two hours to the corporations of Preston, Wigan and St. Helens by the Northwestern Traffic Commissioners recently. These grants enable the Wigan and St. Helens Corporations to run buses over routes in one another's areas and pave the way for the operation of a comprehensive co-ordination scheme between the two corporations and the Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., which received its authority for the scheme a month ago when it took over the Cadman Services, Ltd.
The grant to the Preston Corporation empowered it to substitute buses for trams on its services in the Fulwood district.
CO-ORDINATION ON MERSEYSIDE?
I AST Friday, Sir Thomas White preLa sided over a full meeting of representatives of Liverpool, Bootle, Birkenhead and Wallasey, in Liverpool, when the question of running buses through the Mersey Tunnel was discussed. In order to prevent confusion, the conference decided to adjourn until after the meeting of the larger body, the Merseyside Co-ordination Committee, under the presidency of Lord Derby, to-day (Friday).
A • proposal was submitted by Councillor J. Pennington (Wallasey) that the conference should not proceed on the suggested lines of a " shuttle " service between Liverpool and Birkenhead, as only a small part of the problem of Merseyside transport would be dealt with, and that " the practicability of promoting a comprehensive scheme for the co-ordination of transport facilities on Merseyside," should be investigated. No vote was taken on this proposal.
WELSH STRIKE ENDS AT LAST.
THE West Wales bus strike suddenly collapsed last week, and work was resumed generally in the 'area. The unofficial strikers resumed work on the same terms as those obtaining when they ceased, and the unfortunate stoppage has resulted in nothing but a loss of time in wi-ich the negotiations (now to be proceeded with) on the alleged grievances of the men as to hours and wages, etc., could have been carried out.
TROLLEYBUSES MAKE GOOD.
THE accounts of Maidstone Corporation's transport committee for the past year show a loss of £1,241 on the bus services and a profit of £5,164 on the trolleybuses.
GLASGOW WEEKLY TICKET PROPOSAL.
GLASGOW Transport Committee is 1.-1 to ask the general manager to submit a report on the advisability of introducing universal weekly tickets available on tramcars, subway and buses in the city boundaries. The whole of the tramway system must be included in such a scheme if introduced, as under the Tramways Act residents in outside areas Must enjoy the same scale of fares as other citizens.
Councillor William Reid, sub-convenor of the committee, who is responsible for the suggestion, stated that be was led to bring it forward because of the success which had attended the issue of weekly season tickets on the buses, which now number 13,300. In consequence, the bus revenue between June 1 and August 31 shows an increase over the corresponding period of last year of £11,692.
BID TO IMPROVE RAIL EXCURSIONS
A'wprinciple was raised in an application by Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., to the North Western Traffic Commissioners for a licence to run feeder services in connection with railway excursions in the Wrexham
district. •
Mr. R. C. Roberts, for the North Western Bus Proprietors Association, in opposing the application, submitted that railway excursions might be rendered so attractive that the road operators' trips. might suffer.
Mr. W. Chamberlain, chairman, said that the application introduced an important new principle. The Commissioners would have to consider whether it would be in thepublic interest that services should be in augu rated to make good the disability under which the railway companies suffered, in that their stations Were sometimes removed from the centres of population.
Mr. Roberts declared that it was obviously intended to extend railway excursions. The bus proprietors had no control over the railway companies and could not protect themselves. • The chairman said that the services would apply only when large numbers of people were expected and when special provision would be necessary. Decision was reserved.