Improvements in Passenger Road Transport
Page 18
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WITH the coming release of many thousands of workers from munition factories, also men from the Forces, the position of passenger road transport, at least in respect of its personnel, should steadily improve.
It is claimed by most of the operators that the problems during the war have been due more to lack of staff than to reductions in the fleets of vehicles, for despite the extreme difficulties. of maintaining coaches and buses in,reasonable condition, this has been, in a large measure, achieved.
It must not be expected, however, that the public will be able to take advantage of rapidly growing services. The tyre position is bound to continue difficult for a considerable period, although there may be a reasonable increase in the amount of fuel available. It is highly probable also that many former drivers will not return to the same occupation. If this be the case, time will be required in which to train the new men.
The „position as regards the supply of new vehiclesis now better, but by no means up to requirements, and not likely to be so for a year or more.
Another factor which must be considered is the migration of workers. _Some areas have experienced, an immense influx of men and Women, and special arrangements with regard to transport have had to be made. With the change-over from war to peace conditions, many thousands of these workers will be redistributed, and this will undoubtedly result in a redundancy of transport facilities in some places and a deficit in others. Such unbalancing will require time for readjustment and, possibly, the handing over of surplus vehicles from certain transport organizations to others which will shortly find the demand.on their services growing rapidly.