BIRD'S EYE
Page 65
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By The Hawk VIEW
One of Glasgow Corporation's new rear-engined Leyland Atlanteans in unfamiliar surroundings in Munich. After completing the 1,300-mile journey the bus is being exhibited at the 1965 International Exhibition of Communications and Traffic which is being held in the German city. The exhibition will be open throughout the summer and is expected to be visited by at least three million people.
Missing Link Missing Nearly 20 Members of Parliament took to the air last week as guests of the Automobile Association to view traffic congestion in the land of the missing motorway link—between MI and M6. By rights they should have been full of up-to-the-minute information when they faced the ensuing Press conference at Manchester Airport, but thick weather prevented them from getting a look at the state of affairs during theft journey northward from Gatwick.
Tangle of Traffic During the discussion that followed, Mr. Alec Dude, director-general of the AA, said that unless the planned motorway between Ml and M6 was given greater priority, or immediate steps taken to improve existing roads, nobody would be able to prevent the Midlands being Involved in a tangle of traffic confusion. Mr. Dune, asked by Mr. Enoch Powell (Shadow Minister of Transport) what short-term measures the AA had in mind, refused to be drawn and a Labour MP, Mr. George Pargiter, intimated that it was hoped to start work on the southern sector in about two years' lime.
Potential Motorways Coincidentally—or was it contrived, I wonder—on the same day the Minister, Mr. Tom Fraser, was asked to list sections of motorway which. were in use, under construction, and so on. It appears that 358+ miles of motorway have been completed since 1959, when M.1 opened. A further 108+ miles are under construction now. Tenders have been invited for a further 311miles; schemes have been made for 197+ miles: draft schemes have been published of 1581 potential miles, while the line to be taken by a further 169 miles of motorway has not yet been published. Totalled up, this means that by the middle of the 1970s we shall have not nioT e than 1,023+ miles of motorway. By this time I expect the first roads will have been constructed on the moon.
Additional Finalists There will be some added interest at this year's Lorry Driver of the Year final to be held on September 12 at Brameote. The Historic Consmercial Vehicle Club is holding its second and final rally there, part of which will consist of driving tests for club members. I gather that the best six may be allowed to try the tests set out for the LDOY competition, with a special prize for the best performer. Jam Tomorrow Even the insatiable tickertape
has its moments of ironic humour. Two items which followed one another on Monday were headed "Rail Go Slow" and "New Service will be Commuters' Paradise ".
This latest version of "jam tomorrow" is the new electric commuter service between London and Rugeleyjust the odd 165-mile round trip. It is expected to come into service on British Railways next year and is part of London Midland Region's £175m. modernization project.
Impressive forecasts are given of speeds and timetables. But what about "Mr. Commuter ", with his bowler hat and brief-ease? He will be knocking up 40,000 miles or more a year before he gets down to his own spot of pro-ductivity. Seasoned travellers may well mutter ". . • and the best of luck ".
London's Buses Due to appear in " Town and
Around" the BBC television regional programme--on Wednesday was Ted Murphy, who made his name a few years ago when his book "The Big Load" was published. He was to be interviewed about his new book "London's Buses ''. Ted--now a London Transport inspector—has had a varied career, as his two book titles imply. He has driven heavy trucks and coaches on the Continent and latterly has been driving buses from the Barking depot of London Transport. I am told that LT would do well to read Ted's latest book.
Mendip Merriment Last week's "stoppage" at some Mendip quarries by the tipper operators (all but three of them) had an amusing side to it. The boys had lined their vehicles up outside one of the quarries when. quite by coincidence, I am assured, several Ministry vehicle examiners arrived on the scene. They turned their attention to some vehicles that had managed to get loaded, found three of them defective and slapped, so I am told, immediate prohibitions on them! Then, I gather, a couple of C-licensed trucks belonging to another concern arrived to do some hauling. They were reported to the LA's office. Asked what proof there was for the allegation, the reply given was: "The BBC television film will give you your evidence." I gather that the whole incident was filmed, including some of the tipper men examining the discs on the vehicles.