Electric experiment to continue

20th September 1974, Page 80

20th September 1974

Page 80

Page 80, 20th September 1974 — Electric experiment to continue

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CHESTER'S current passenger transport experi ment a park-and-ride service using one of the Department of Trade and Industry's two Crompton battery electric buses may be extended to the end of December.

At a recent meeting, Chester council came down in favour of continuing the experimental service, originally due to end later this month, in order to evaluate its potential over the Christmas peakshopping period.

Negotiations between the Department of Trade and Industry and the corporation to extend the loan are at present being held by transport manager Mr David Clarke.

Mr Clark told CM that so far it had been found that the 19-seat bus was, compared with a normal diesel, cheaper to run from a fuel point of view.

The service is being operated on a two mile figure-of-eight route, and a survey has shown that 72 per cent of passengers have either boarded or alighted at the main car park on the route, A subsidy of £500 that will be needed to keep the vehicle on loan will be shared between the city and the county council.