PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
BUS PROGRESS IN A WELSH CENTRE.
Although Adverse Conditions and Unemployment are Prevalent in the Coal and Iron Trades at Merthyr, the Town's Bus Services Continue to Prbsper.
MHE industrial activities of Merthyr
Tydvil, Glamorganshire, and the surreunding districts are chiefly connected with collieries and ironworks, but, although there is great trade depression in this area, the passenger-transport undertakings still continue to provide regular services and, in certain instances, developments have taken place even duringthe past 12 months, in which trade conditions have been particularly unfavourable in the area.
Under the supervision of Mr. T. II, Thompson, the recently appointed bus superintendent, the Merthyr Corporation's services continue to flourish, and from quite a small beginning the fleet has gradually been increased to the present total of 18 vehicles. All are single-deckers, ranging in' capacity from 16-seaters to 32-seaters, the larger vehicles being in the majority. Four are A.E.C. machines, two are Thornycrofts and 12are Leylands; three of the lastnamed are of the Lion type. Incidentally, pneumatic tyres are now being fitted to all vehicles in the corporation's fleet.
Although the population of Merthyr Tydvil is over 80,000, the corporation did not start its motorbus services until 1924, but it has held the requisite powers since the sanction of a local Act Passed four years previous to that date. In view of this, it was only likely that private enterprise should be in the field first and in this category are included the local tramways, which are owned and operated by the Merthyr Electric Traction Co,, Ltd., and which provide services to Cefn Coed and Dowlais.
The municipal buses do not run for any great distance along -the tramway, routes and all services are limited to roads within the borough. In this connection, it may be mentioned that on June 26th last a Ministry of Transport inquiry into the circumstances of the refusal of licences to certain operators in the district was held, and the running of buses along the Cefn Coed tramcar route was one of the points at issue.
At present the corporation's buses serve Aberfan, Nixonville and Merthyr Vale throughout the week, and Treharris, Pant, Dowlais, Heolgerrig, Twyn-y-Rodyn and Pagwyn on Fridays and Saturdays only. The headway varies from 10 minutes to 60 minutes, according to the route.
Amongst the private companies operating into Merthyr, the largest fleet owners are Messrs. Aberdare Motor Services, who run, in conjunction with the Great Western Railway Co., a 20minute service between Aberdare and Merthyr on weekdays and a 45-minute service on Sunday's. A 90-minute service is also run to Brecon by this company.
The Great Western Railway Co. has also recently instituted regular roadtravel facilities between Aberdare and Glyn Neath, via Hirwaun, where connection is made with yet another of the company's routes, which enables the journey to be continued right down the Vale of Neath to Neath.
Ign this area and at Brecon, from whence quite a number. of the Great Western Railway Co.'s services radiate, Thornycroft 20-seaters, Guy forwarddrive-type 32-seaters and Maudslay 32-seaters, ML3-type vehicles, are in commission. The Aberdare Motor Service's fleet is largely composed of Associated Daimler and Leyland 213seater to 32-seater saloons.
Two other owners running into the town are Messrs. W. J. Davies and Son (Merthyr Motor Services) and Messrs. C. Davies and Son (Dowlais Motor Services), who operate Thornycroft 20seaters with Hall Lewis bodywork, a Mandslay 30-seater and Commer 26seaters. Services are provided by these two firms" to Treharris, Dowlais and Pant, whilst others are run to Aberfan and Cefn Coed.
Incidentally, Messrs. C. Davies and Son have been operating on the Aberfan route for just over seven years, and it was the services of these two proprietors which were the subject of the Ministry of Transport inquiry mentioned above.
The Glynneath route is served by Messrs. Phipps, of that district, Thornycroft 26-seater buses being used.
From the Dowlais tram terminus, Western Services, Ltd., of Blackwood, run buses at two-hourly intervals to Rhymney Bridge, Brynmawr and Abergavenny, This company's vehicles are chiefly of Dennis make, including the E type, and Albion 30-60 h.p. 26-seater to 32-seater saloons, An hourly service to Rhymney Bridge and Tredegar is also provided by the Valleys Motor Bus Services, Ltd„ which has its chief office at Tredegar with branch depots at Ebbw Vale and R.hyteiiey. This concern runs 20-seater and 32-seater Albion buses.