London's Bus Travellers Switch to Rail
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MORE people than ever before are coming into Central London by public transport in the rush-hours, but more of them are travelling by rail. Census figures issued by London Transport this week, based on a survey taken last November, show that 1,187,700 passengers—nearly 27,000 More than a year before—enter the West End and City in the morning peak hours by public transport. This is a rise of 2 per cent.
Fewer Passengers Bus services, hit by traffic congestion, staff shortage and by more private cars on the road, have continued to carry fewer people to and from the central area and the number of passengers in the morning peak has dropped by nearly 7,000 to 215.600 and in the evening by about 6,000 to 179,500. This loss of rush-hour passengers on the bus services, however, is more than compensated by the increased traffic on the Under Busier Peaks ground and British Railways.
The census also shows that the peaks arc even busier. Between 8.45 a.m. and 9 a.m. 181,500 people enter central London, 7,700 more than in the previous year. In the evening 192,400 passengers leave between 5.30 p.m. and 5.45 p.m.—a jump of 4,600 over 1959.
A pointer towards further staggered
hours with, perhaps, a reduction in the working day for many people is shown by the fact that while homeward traffic has increased between 4.30 p.m. and 5.0 P.m. by 6,400, it has decreased between 5.45 p.m. and 6.15 p.m. by 4,500.
A London Transport spokesman commented: "Despite the overall increase in peak traffic, it is fairly well spread out and the staggering of hours campaign has helped ease the problem."
I.o.TExam Courses
THE City of London College, Moor' gate, E.C.2, is again this year to hold classes for students taking the Institute of Transport examination courses. Enrolment may be made on September 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (for last year's students wishing to enrol or completing courses), on September 18 from 5 to 7.30 p.m. (for last year's students—any course) and tin September 19 and 20.