Green Line Losses and Savings
Page 21
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AMONGST transport men there is an axiom that traffic facilities create traffic. The truth of the converse of this is demonstrated by the answer to one of the most interesting transport problems which has arisen out of the war. The question .is, what has happened to the Green Line coach traffic since the extensive services run by London Transport were withdrawn on September 29, 1942?
In short, the answer is that about half of the former passengers have ceased to travel and have not even availed themselves of alternative means, such as the main-line railways, the Underground, country buses or buses in the central area.
The services linked towns with towns, villages with villages and towns with villages. They provided both town dwellers and those in the country with a speedy and convenient means for travel, of a quality and speed approximating to that of the private car, and particularly between points where such facilities did not previously exist. As a result, they called into being an entirely new traffic which met a real public need.
It is not poisible to make a precise analysis of the coach traffic which has found its way to other forms of transport. There are many factors, such as seasonal fluctuations, alterations in residence, direction to industry, and changes of employment, to account for this difficulty, but there is sufficient traffic information to indicate that in the areas specifically affected rather less• than one-fifth appears to have transferred to country-bus services, about one-tenth to the central-area buses, and a little less than one-tenth to the main-line railways; diversions to trams, trolleybuses and the Underground railways are negligible. How much of the ' lost " 50 per cent. is due to conscientious folk asking themselves, " Is your journey really necessary? " cannot be computed, but what is clear is that the withdrawal of the Green Line coaches has deprived many people of a convenient and direct travel facility, the effect of which has inevitably reduced the aggregate volume of travel.
However, their loss has resulted in a net saving of 11,500,000 vehicle-miles a year, together with huge economies in fuel, rubber and man-power. Therefore, the sacrifice has not been in vain. Local bus services were strengthened a little in some parts 'to cover the gaps, but this additional bus mileage is small compared with the savings.
One day the Green Line coaches will reappear, possibly as more handsome, comfortable and capacious vehicles, but; of course, the requisite consents from the authorities will be necessary. Perhaps, too, we may then be told of the splendid war service which has been performed by some of these vehicles.