PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
AS in most countries, there has been in recent years considerable progress in the establishment of motorbus services in Denmark. The increasing use of buses has, indeed, been so marked that it has had a notable effect on railway traffic, so much
so, that some timo ago a special commission was appointed to consider the question of the co-relation of railway and motorbus traffic. This commission has gone very deeply into the subject and its report, which is expected to be issued shortly, is being awaited with considerable interest.
Whilst a eon
siderable number of the motorbuses in use has been imported— Denmark not being a very important motor-vehicle producing country—there is one Danish concern which has entered the industry on thoroughly up-to-date lines and is now turning out large numbers of both motorbuses and lorries which, in their main details, compare quite favourably with those of other countries. We refer to the Forenede Automobilfabrik A/S of Odense, and we illustrate herewith two of the latest Triangel buses produced in this company's works. The single-deck vehicle represents a type of which a large number has been supplied for use in different
Darts of Denmark. It has a seating capacity for 22 passengers and, as will C38 be seen, is of the low load-line type, a low platform being secured by the adoption of an undertype worm-drive.
The motive power is supplied by a six-cylinder engine, having a bore and stroke of 86 min. and 115 ram. respee tively, which is stated to develop 50 h.p. Both the oil and water circulation are maintained by pump, whilst the carburetter is fed through an Autovac,
Ton AIL and road interests were in. conJ..1./ diet at Stockton on January 12th, when Mr. Tollerton, of the Ministry of Transport, conducted an inquiry into an application by the Stockton Corporation for the renewal of motor-omnibus running powers for its various routes, and
The engine is built up in unit form with a dry-plate clutch and a three speed-and-reverse gearbox. From the gearbox the power is transmitted to the rear axle through a two-piece propeller shaft, the central coupling of the two portions being carried in a ball-bearing supported from one of the chassis crossmembers. /lardy flexible fabric and rubber universal couplings are provided at both front and rear of the propeller shaft. The ratio of the back-axle wormdrive in the standard chassis is 4 to 29, can be supplied • if desired. A pedal actuates brake • shoes working within drums secured to the rear wheels, whilst the hand brake, which is of a similar patter n, takes effect at the rear of the gearbox. Steering is effected by worm and sector.
The springs are of a special pattern, no shackle pins being used, except
at the forward ends of the front springs. The spring ends are carried in special housings secared to the frame, and these housings also act as oil reservoirs-for the lubrication of the spring leaves.
The chassis is made in two lengths of wheelbase-13 ft. 8 ins. and 14 ft. 9 ins. —the overall lengths being 19 ft. 2 ins. and 21 ft. 7 ins, respectively, the width in both cases being 5 ft. 1 in. The shorter chassis weighs 42 cwt. and the other chassis 47 cwt. If desired, the chassis can be fitted with a 70 lip. sixcylinder engine, having a bore of 95 mm. and a stroke of 127 mm.
for sanetioa to make slight alterations on certain routes. The existing powers expire on February 14th, and consent is sought for a renewal of these for a further seven years. The alterations include requests for permission to pick up passengers at the Transporter Bridge,
on the Stockton-Port Clarence route, for an extension of rnnning powers into the West Hartlepool authority's area, for about 100 yds. to 150 yds. at Seaton Carew, and to divert its Haverton Hill route in consequence of the chmdug of Chilton Lane.
Mr. T. Downey, town clerk, appeared for the Stockton Corporation; • Mr. k Harer, barrister, represented the London and North-Eastern Railway Co. ; and Mr.. Harold •Stanton, town clerk; was present on behelf of the West Hartlepool Corporation.
The rail opposition was based on the competition to which L.N.E.R. train services are subject by the motorbuses. This competition, it was alleged, was unfair, in that the bus routes ran alongside the company's lines from Stockton to Yarm, and from Stockton to Seaton Carew. It was stated that the railway company provided an adequate service, particularly for workmen at Billiegham, on the latter.route.
Mr. A. Forster, the manager of the Stockton tramways and omnibus undertaking, replied that, whereas the L.N.E.R. ran one workmen's train, the corporation operated 27 workmen's buses each morning.
Mr. Harker also entered an objection on the ground that not only did the railway company suffer from this competition, but, as ratepayers contributing 8 per cent, of the rates of the borough, it was the largest sufferer by any loss incurred in the bus undertaking.
In reply to this assertion, Mr. Downey put in a statement showing that, whereas in the earlier years a loss was shown on the Stockton bus services, the undertaking was new Making a handsome profit. The figures since 1921 were given as follow Year. • Loss.' Profit.
In addition, he stated that £1,000 had been set aside for renewals in each of. the last two years. The profits had been made notwithstanding the fact that the past three years had been times of unprecedented industrial depression. when there bad been from 6,000 to 9,000 unemployed in the district.
it was stated that the Seaton Carew variation had the approval of the West Hartlepool authority. Mr. Stanton. said that the West Hartlepool opposition was based en the request by Stockton for running powers over the new Tees road, between Port Clarence to Seaton Carew. The ground of the objection was that Stockton Corporation was competing-with services authorized to run by West Hartlepool and Middlesbrough Corporations, and that overlapping and loss of profit was thus being brought about.
It was stated during evidence called for the corporation that in the five and a half years of municipal control the Stockton buses have carried about 2,000,000 passengers inside the borough and over. 0.000,000 passengers on routes IA °C
ir.. authorities and private
motor onmiIms undertakings -within the -21-mile radins in which the Newcastle Corporation is seeking extended running powers are taking-active steps strongly to oppose the corporation's proposed new Bill. So far as the local bodies are concerned, it is understood that the Northumberland County Council. which has already ledged a notice of opposition through its parliamentary committee, is arranging a conference with representatives of all district authorities insia the area for the purpose of discussing a joint plan of action. Several of these local bodies complain that the corporation is not giving fair treatment to private Olnnibus concerns, some of which pioneered the routes in their respective areas.
The county council have, of course, formally to approve or dis outside the borough. The undertaking was stated to be carrying on the motorbuses at the present time 60,000 workmen a month.
Concluding the railway opposition, Mr. Harker said that the railway companies had been allowed to charge rates and fares designed to give them a standard revenue, and if unfair competition by motorbuses was continued the traffic lost on the passenger services would have to be met by increased rates on merchandise and similar traffic. He added that, in industrial districts, such as Stockton, municipalities should reflect upon the outcome of the policy of entering into unnecessary competition with the railways, which were giving a public service essential to the welfare of the country as a.whole.
approve the action of its committee at its next full meeting on February 3rd, but there is every reason to believe that the steps already taken will be fully endorsed, unless a compromise is reached in the interim, with reference to the rights of private omnibus interests.
Gosforth is at the moment the scene of the most determined, stand against the advances of the municipality. The local urban district council has thoroughly discussed the question of general policy with regard to motorbus traffic with a deputation from the Newcastle Corporation, without reaching any satisfactory outcome, and the authority has no* decided to oppose the It is gathered that the municipal deputation was asked, in the event of Gosforth Urban District Council removing all restrictions in respect of routes
for the Newcastle Corporation, whether the corporation in return would remove all restrictions in the city in connection with private buses running from Gosforth to the city and along the train route. The deputation said it could not entertain such a proposal.
The Gosforth authority alleges, as Its chief objection to the Bill, that the municipality is attempting to set up a monopoly of omnibus as well as tram traffic, It also avers that the corporation is exceeding its statutory powers in making it a condition of issuing licences to private owners that their buses shall not take up passengers along the corporation tram sections outside the city boundary.
At the present time there are 24 buses an hour passing through Gosforth, and, in addition, there are many others in use which do not adhere to re time schedule. Proprietors of these vehicles are, in all eases, desirous of providing transit facilities for people living in the Gosforth neighbourhood, but are debarred from doing so owing to the conditions imposed by the municipality under the Towns Police Claims Act, 1889.
The Gosforth authority has now decided upon a counter-measure. It states that it is to exercise its powers tinder the same Act. To tide end the proprietors of suitable vehicles are requested to apply for lieences, and applications in respect of about 100 buses have so far been received. The receipt of these was reported at a meeting of the council on January 12th. but it was stated that there was no application from the Newcastle Corporation in respect of its fleet of "Blue" buses.
The exact steps which are to be taken to provide transport facilities for the Gosforth -district will be announced at a subsequamt meeting, but there is a strong feeling in the township that the council has adopted the right line. At present, residents are prohibited from boarding buses travelling either north or south, and are compelled, -when going to Newcastle, to travel by tram, which takes 25 minutes, or, alternatively, to walk. The same journey by the buses which pass through takes 10 minutes.
The corporation is stated to have admitted that it is unable to run buses from Gosforth to Gosforth Park, to the north, on account of an arrangement with the Tyneside Tramways. It is further stated that the same prohibition is also imposed on private bus owners in respect of this stretch of road. As matters stand at present residents of Gosforth are in the unhappy position of having to watch vehicles passing at the rate of something like one every two
AA SHARP conflict having arisen between Messrs. Barton Bros., of Beeston, who were the pioneers of motorbus traflie in the Nottingham district, and the West Bridgford Urban District Council, which exercises administrative control over a large residential area immediately contiguous to the city, consequent upon the refusal of the council to grant the firm licences to ply for hire in that locality, the ease recently formed the subject of an anneal to the Ministry of Transport, an official of which has just conducted an exhaustive inquiry into the matter. The result was announced at the last meeting of the council, when it was stated that a communication had been received intimating that the Ministry had decided in these cases not to make any orders on the licensing authority.
It was pointed out, however, that ,Messrs. Barton's buses were still run
minutes while they wait for slower types of conveyance.
In the meantime the municipality is anxious to inaugurate its service of buses to supplement the Newcastle to Gosforth tram section, but the Gosforth authority is withholding its sanction unless other bus proprietors are accorded similar facilities.
The -United Automobile Services, Ltd., and other private bus concerns operating in the area state that they are determined to oppose the Bill, contending that they are entitled to the same rights in Gosforth as the municipality. They further state that they have loyally adhered to the licensing conditions on the point, despite the fact that they disapprove the restrictions.
nine in the district and that, the chairman observed, would be dealt with in committee.
. Messrs. Barton's application has thaw shared a similar fate to that of Mr. Jas. Atkin, who had applied for powers against the decision of the council, which also refused to allow him to run bus services in the Bridgford area, his appeal being rejected by the Ministry in December last.
The council, which owns an admirably equipped fleet of. vehicles, has thus established a monopoly, and through the arrangements which it has recently . completed with the Nottingham Corporation further important developments will shortly be effected. Subject to the Ministry's sanction, there will, under this arrangement, be an interchange of traffic by the utilization over extended routes of buses belonging to the corporation and the district council.