Longer Coaches?
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IN a written answer to a question in the House of Commons last week, Mr. Marples, Minister of Transport, announced that he had decided to circulate interested organizations for comment on a proposal to increase the maximum width of public service vehicles from 8 ft. to 8 ft. 24 in., and the length from 30 ft. to 36 ft. This, of course, is a proposal for which the industry has pressed for a considerable time and one, on the whole, to be welcomed.
It would mean that British buses and coaches would conform much more closely with their Continental competitors. The coaching section has long felt the burden of size restrictions, especially when operating tours on the Continent. It is probable, too, that the 50-seater coach would be welcomed in this country.
So far as the bus section of the industry is concerned, opinions as to the wisdom of operating vehicles even larger than the current 74-seaters may well prove to be divided. Certainly, duplication of entrance doors, to speed picking-up and setting-down, would be necessary.
From the manufacturer's point of view, other problems are posed. If the regulations as to length are revised, so also must those dealing with overhang and swept circle. Although chassis designed for export today could, equally meet British requirements tomorrow, the quantity-produced coach chassis would need extensive redesign. An extra 6 ft. in length cannot simply be tacked on to the rear of the body. Much of the tolerance would have to be found at the front end.