Operating Aspects of
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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
WAR DELAYS BUSCONVERSION SCHEME LIFE of the tramways in Manchester 1...ais to be extended, consequent on a decision of the corporation to hold up the conversion of the system to bus and trolleybus operation, possibly until the war is over, with one exception, this being the Oldham Road route, which was being converted to buses when the war started. Tram services at present in operation will be maintained. About 65 per cent, of the municipal system has already been converted -to bus operation.
BLACKPOOL BUSES DO WELL.
BETWEEN April 1 and September 3 Blackpool Corporation busee covered 2,882,130 miles and 2142,715 was paid ay 22,021,560 passengers. Compared with last year there was an increase of 300,000 passengers and 41,500 in resipts. Highest average receipts were m Stanley Par route (2s. 1d. per mile) ind Grasmere Road route (1s. 3d. per nile). The service to Stanley Park &port produced an average of only M. per mile and the other airport serrice only a fraction in excess of 71d. )er mile.
GLASGOW BLACK-OUT STRIKE THREAT.
EPRESENTATIVES of the Home A. Office and the Transport and Genral Workers Union left London on ktober 16 for Glasgow to confer with he transport management and Union fficials on the threat of Glasgow tunicipal bus and tram operatives to top work at 8 p.m. in the evenings as -om October 19, unless lighting facili,es are improved.
The delegation will it is stated, s`main in Glasgow until* it has ramined the effects of the present ghting arrangements. When making investigations, the mission is cpected to consult the transport corn[thee and representatives of the men's nion.
NEW SCHEDULES IMPROVE LONDON'S BUS SERVICES.
'INCE the rationing of petrol and )oil fuel was introduced there has !en a reduction in London's bus serces, but-London Transport has made ecial observations of the requireents of each route, and these showed at adjustments were essential in cerin services to meet present needs, Additional buses are, therefore, being stored to service as rapidly as p08. )leon many routes and new schedules have been prepared to make the best use of the number of vehicles available. These have been completed for 22 routes and were introduced on Wednes day last. In addition to providing 2,000 more bus journeys a week, they give greater regularity on all routes.
The 22 routes are some of the principal in London, serving the West End and City and industrial areas in the east and west.
Certain broad principles are guiding the Board in adjusting its bus services to the amount of fuel it is allowed. The largest reductions are being made during mid-day and after 8 p.m., and the greatest number of buses is being kept in service during the morning and evening peak hours. To limit inconvenience, the routes chosen for the heaviest withdrawals are those parallel with tramways and trolleybuses.
LONDON TROLLEYBUS EXTENSIONS HELD UP.
CURTHER extension of the trolley1 bus system in London, in replacement of trams, is to be postponed until the end of the war. Work will not be stopped until London Transport has completed the change-over on the system north of the Thames; but no further replacements will be made on the south side of the river.
CHANGE IN PICKING-UP AGREEMENT.
MEGOTIATIONS are taking place I between Birkenhead Corporation and Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., with a view to altering the agreement between the two undertakings whereby the Crosville concern picks up passengers coming into the town.
BLACK-OUT COSTS £400 A WEEK.
RETURNS of Burnley, Colne and Nelson Joint Transport Committee show a weekly decrease of 2403 due to the black-out. Receipts during a recent period were 25,374, against
45,777 last year. Passengers carried totalled 763,577, against 956,264.
The committee's investigations into the use of gas for buses has been held up owing to delay in the supply of containers, but delivery is now assured.
Several months ago Mr. C. G. Stafford, the former manager, started experiments with gas and it was found practicable to run buses on a highpressure system. The cost of cylinders, compressor plant and other equipment was considered prohibitive, however, and attention was turned to lowpressure gas.
HALIFAX BUSES TO BE SUPERCHARGED
HALIFAX joint Omnibus Committee has decidisd that four more of its oil-engined buses shall be equipped with Centric superchargers. A supercharger of this type has, for some months, been in experimental use on onna of the Halifax vehicles. Its intro, duction is aimed to meet more economically the need for high power on the steep gradients which are so plentiful in this hilly Yorkshire town.
The Halifax Joint Committee has also authorized yr. G. F. Craven, the transport manager,. to undertake experiments in the application of gas. producerapparatus to buses.
CORONER MAKES NIGHT TEST. V AST RIDING Coroner, Mr. Thomas Holtby, who made a night test with a bus under service conditions, said that it was not fit for vehicles to be on the road after dark in the present circumstances. Be appealed to pedestrians to help drivers at night,
NO SUNDAY BUSES AT SOUTH PORT.
RATHER than curtail the already reduced week-day bus service, Southport Transport Committee has decided to suspend entirely the running of buses on Sundays. This follows the reduction of the department's petrol ration.
MANCHESTER HIRE-CAR OWNERS ACT.
URGENT steps to obtain more petrol -were decided upon at a meeting, last week, held by representatives of 30 Manchester private-hire operators, owning 560 vehicles. It was felt inequitable that ordinary taxicabs should receive 90 gallons a month, whereas about a quarter of that amount was allowed to hire cars.
A committee of five members was elected, with plenary powers to attend personally at the Ministry of Mines. If no relief were forthcoming, the committee was to wait on the Ministry towards the end of this week.
"MIDLAND RED" MAY STOP AFTER DARK.
MIGHT services of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., may have to cease, unless the lighting restrictions are altered. This hint was given, last week, by Mr. 0. C. Power, traffic manager, who said that accidents to people in the dimly lit buses had reached a number between 40 and 50 during the past three weeks, whilst there had been a dozen fatal accidents on the system.
The "Midland Red" was liable to pay compensation to those injured. In addition, he estimated it was losing 21,000 a week through bad money and non-payment of fares, • Mr. Power declared that under the present conditions the men could not face night work in winter.