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PEAK HOURS
Page 72
Page 73
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are PLEASURE -TOURS in Southport The Seaside Garden City—Famous Holiday Resort—is Served by a Public Transport System Tha t Makes Use of 52 Vehicles, the Majority of Which is of Leyland
Manufacture
/N view of its claim to be England's " seaside garden city," it is hardly surprising. to find that Southport's peak hours for passenger transport are not related to the work-a-day world. They do, in fact, coincide with the performances of the cinemas and theatres! ._ Although famous as a holiday resort, the town is also a favourite residential area for those employed in mid-Lancashire manufacturing districts, so that there is no " dead " season and the amusement-travel feature of the operations appertains throughout the year.
Back in the 'Seventies.
Public transport was first provided by a horsed-car company in the 'seventies, and the system was extended beyond the borough boundaries into Birkdale by another company in the early 'eighties. Electric trams were provided, from the year 1900, by the Southport tramways company, the corporation equipping the lines and leasing them to the undertaking.
This arrangement continued until 1918, when the entire system was taken over by the borough. The use of motorbuses commenced in 1924 and grew rapidly from 1928 onwards until December 31, 1934, when there was a big jump in the has fleet. On that day the tram system was abandoned and all the remaining routes' turned over to bus operation. Apart from improvements in the service, the change gave laZIO a new spaciousness to the already dignified main thoroughfares of the town.
From 1900, in the first days of the electric tramways, the management has been in the hands of Mr. Thos. J. Kendrew. When he took over, horsed trams were still in use to link up two of the districts, so that he has seen the fleet pass through the stages of horsed tram, electric tram, and petrol bus before steadily going over to the oil engine.
The fleet now numbers 52 and consists of 15 51-seater petrol-engined Vulcans, two Leyland Titan Lowbridge 51-seater petrol buses, five Leyland Titan Hybridge 51-seater petrol buses, 23 Leyland Hybridge 51-seater oilers, five Leyland 53-seater oilers with hydraulic transmission, a Guy 20-seater opening-roof saloon and a Guy 26-seater sun saloon.
Service for 80,000.
This fleet serves a population of approximately 80,000 people and finds employment for a staff of 250. Owing to the heaviest traffic falling in the afternoon, there is practically no need for spread-overs in the staff working; a continuous eight-hour stretch of duty is the normal rule, an arrangement that is generally popular, as it leaves a substantial portion of the day as free time for the men.
Starting with one vehicle in 1924-5, the bus fleet gradually grew to 25; in 1934 it jumped to 45 units on the abandonment of the trams. Further increases have brought the total to the 52 already mentioned and •during the year to March, 1938, the revenue—at £101.979--reached six figures for the first time on record. The grossi profit amounted to £22,508, with a net profit of £12,921. Throughout its operation the undertaking has never required aid from the rates.
Costs Cut.
During the year, 2,306,867 bus-miles were covered and 17,030,287 passengers were carried. The total revenue per bus-mile, for 1938, was 10.609d. compared with 10.699d. for the previous year, whilst working expenses were 8.268d., against 8.361d.
Southport is free from heavy gradients and reports show that the average fuel consumption is maintained at a rate of 5.5 m.p.g. for petrol buses and 10.5 m.p.g. for oilers.
Peak loading, as has been mentioned, follows the movement of the people between home and amusements and a series of four rushes is provided for, covering early afternoon, late afternoon, early evening and late evening. In addition to these movements, a careful note has always to be kept of the special services required in connection with football matches in the winter or motor racing on the sands in the summer, whilst conferences, musical festivals, the famous Southport Flower Show, and other attractions, may also dethand variations. • Four-fifths of the fares booked are by return tickets, which are available always. These usually show id. Saving on the return fare. Contracts and books of tickets have been tried and discarded.
Low Fares.
Taking into consideration the size and circumstances of -the undertaking, fares are particularly -low and rePresent an average of 0.795d. per mile for ordinary singles and -0.728d.. per .mile for ordinary returns, whilst workmen's singles work out at an average. of 0.692d. per mile and workmen's 'returns at 0.582d. per mile.
During 1936, a marine-tour service, which provided for visitors a shilling trip around a number of principal points of the town was inaugurated and was worked by a Gtiy one-manoperated saloon bus. This departure met with considerable success and an additional vehicle of the same type was purchased, so that in the busy periods in the 1937 and 1938 holiday seasons, it was possible for the service -to be duplicated.
Despite the heavy holiday traffic which flows through the town during the summer, the number of accidents reported shows a decrease over the past two years. In 1938,10 drivers received oak-leaf bars to attach to their gold medals for driving without blameworthy accident for 11 consecutive years, four further drivers received gold medals for 10 years' safe driving, 26 drivers received bars for silver medals and 23 drivers earned diplomas, so that 63 men out of a possible. 811 received awards. .
Overhaul System.
The day shift at the garage is responsible for -ail overhaul `work. Vehicles are given a ,minor dock at 1,500 miles and a`inajcir dock at about • 15,000 miles; at-60,000-milei a coMplete overhaul is undertaken, The-spare-unit system is applied to engine, gearbox. etc., and replaceniefits are carried out at approxiruately .75,000 miles inthe cas.e of the petrol engines and bet`ween 100;000 miles and120;000 miles in respect of the oil eegiries. A mileage of .,75-..000 is expected betweep body overhauls.
In the course of the ' year ended March, -1938, repairs came to a higher total than nornIal,,. owing to the fact that only six biases were new. Incidentally, these machines Were paid for out of accumulated surplus..
Busy Workshop.
During the year mentioned, 20 oilengined buses that had been operating from 1935 required particular attention and, altogether, the repair shop dealt with 136 major dock overhauls and 29 engine reconditionings (these units were dismantled and completely rebuilt, rebored, had oversize pistons fitted and the crankshafts reground). There Were also 15 gearboxes repaired, 25 differentials overhauled, 26 bodies repainted, 26 bodies overhauled, and 14 bodies varnished.
Southport is fortunate in possessing a fleet of modern vehicles operating at an average speed of 11 m.p.h. and providing this service at particularly low charges. Even so, it is understood that, in view of the highly profitable operations, the possibility of reducing fares is having consideration.