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An "Elastic" Single-decker

23rd September 1949
Page 30
Page 30, 23rd September 1949 — An "Elastic" Single-decker
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rr HIS week "The Commercial Motor" is able to give an exclusive report of a 46-seater single-deck luxury coach, the first of its kind in this country. Details of the design were. first announced in this journal on March 19, 1948, and a description of the prototype, with photographs of the body in the part-constructed stage, was given in our issue dated June 24, 1949. This prototype, which was completed only this week, was offered to our technical staff for test, Ministry officials, manufacturers, operators and Press representatives will have an opportunity of seeing the coach at a demonstration which is to be held in London to-day. It is to be hoped that the Ministry of Transport certifying officers will take a broad view of the potentialities of this interesting vehicle and assist the manufacturer and operator to get it into service at an early date.

The result of their inspection will be closely observed by at least one large coachbuilding concern, an official of which estimated that by employing this type of coach or bus in this country. the output of bodies could be increased by 25 per cent., with a 20 per cent, saving in man-power and • material. This same con era is interested in Constructing a monocoque-pattern bus, the body having 60 seats, tiered fashion, and conforming to the regulations and dimensions of a single-decker.

Operators view this project as a means for providing more economical transport. They consider that a worth-while saving could be made in fuel, and that present coach services could be carried on by using two-thirds of the number of vehicles of the new design.

The 60-seater model would be an ideal vehicle for the busy factory areas and to replace the unpopular side-gangway double-deckers which are used in so many parts of the country.

Critics of the design will doubtless pick on the inter-floor steps, which might be a potential danger to the aged or infirm. Operators of double-deck buses will probably comment on the reduced advertising space available or the effectiveness of the decency screening.

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Organisations: Ministry of Transport
Locations: London

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