PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
THE SMALL BUS OWNERS CHANCE IN LONDON.
The Efforts of an Enterprising Proprietor to Secure a Portion of the Passenger Traffic in the Metropolis.
ANOTEWORTHY feature of London's passenger traffic during the Fast :few months has been the incursion of several enterprising omnibus proprietors into the sphere of activity which has, for so many years, been the unmolested domain of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., who, it must be • freely admitted, have given the travelling public good seevice over a trying period of years. Whether London's bus service should be in the hands of a monopoly or not is not a question for discussion here, but Mr. Bernard Cosgrove, who owns and controls the ''Admiral Omnibus Co., of Willow Walk, West Green Road, Wood Green, London N., certainly thinks that he has a perfect right to run buses on the streets of the Metropolis for a livelihood, pro
vided that he studies the interests of passetigers in a proper manner.
Before .finally deciding to adopt this coUrie, Mr. Cosgrove, who, while with Messrs.. .Harvey and Burrows, of Ware, had many years' experience in the operation of buses in the rural areas of Hertfordshire; gave close attention to busoperating eonditions in many parts of the country. He came to the definite conclusion that, although there were, perhaps, many. areas in which he might run services profitably, he could only do so to the detriment of existing small owners. This was against • his principle of " live and let live.," and he accordingly set himself the task of ascertaining the need for additional buses on certain of the regular routes operated in London.
As a result of information thusse; cured, Mr. Cosgrove decided that the No. 29 smite run by the London General Omnibus Ces, ,Ltd.;. from Southgate, to Victoria, 'could do with more vehicles, the traffic being so heavy during certain parts of the day that travellers were put to considerable inconvenience. On December 14th, therefore, he inaugurated his operations by putting two StrakerSquire buses into regular service on this particular route.
His choice fell upon Straker-Squire chassis for several reasons, amongst which were that he had had previous experience with thesemachines,. whilst the makers' works were situated in close proximity to his own headquarters. The chassis—known as the A-type—are the latest model produced by the Edmonton company, and they are fitted with 44-seater bodies, in which the arrangement of seating is more or less conventional. Each bus cost ,E1,500 complete, although four additional vehicles of identical pattern, which are now in course of construction, will each cost £250 less.
For the moment, with only two buses in service, Mr. Cosgrove realises that it is extremely difficult for the company to give the maximum service, but when additional buses sic on the road it is intended to maintain a through service from Southgate to Victoria from 7.30 a.m. to 12.30 a.m, by working a double shift and running to a definite time schedule. Mr. Cosgrove is placing the needs of passengers before any other considerations, for he realizes that only by so' doing will the venture prove a suceess. He has put 215,000 into the business. '
It is not everyone, perhaps, who will appreciate the subtlety of the appella-. tion. " Admiral," which is given to the buses. It Was a happy inspiration that suggested the idea, ant, as Mr. Cosgrove says, the Army is well represented on the streets of London, why not the Navy also ? Moreover, the idea is also represented in the colours which have been adopted.
Since the service was started, the tak• ings for a 10-hour day have been roughly £10, and Mr. Cosgrove is of the opinion that on the No. 29 route an average of El per hour can be earned by each bus. He is expecting a 25 per cent. return from the buses after all con tingencies have been met. The fares and stage points on the service are identical with those charged on the General buses. Mr. Cosgrove has been able to obtain ex-L.G.O.C. men as drivers and conductors, who have experience and knowledge of London's traffic conditions. The men are provided with smart uniforms.
When the vehicles are off service they are housed at Messrs. Bennett's garage, where the ordinary cleaning operations are harried out. Mr. Cosgrove has wisely decided to let the builders of the chassis overhaul and maintain the vehicles. .
The Admiral buses incorporate most of the features which are to be found on the vehicles with which Londoners are so familiar., including sicc lifeguards, kneeaprons, etc. An emergency oil lighting set forms part of the equipment of each bus, which is intended for use should the electrical system give trouble. It should be mentioned that considerable thought has been given tc the general appearance of the vehicles, and plated wheel hub caps and radiators make them distinctive.
A seven-days-a-week service is being rust by the company in order to give the utmost service to passengers.
Mr. Cosgrove is Very satisfied with the
response. vhich, , his .enterprise is obtaining from the travelling public, whose requirements, be is out to meet first and foremost., lie 'intends ultimately to 'ptit 10 buses into service, and sets' this nuMber as' s limit," as he wishes to retain. individual control over the vehicles; which, he maintairissivoula not bc possible if he had to seek additional working capital. It is satisfactory to learn that the company are receiving every assistance from-the authorities at Scotland Yard.
Dundee's Bus Results.
The Dundee Town Council instituted a motorbus service just over thrse months ago, which was organized to serve those portions of the city which were not tapped by the tramway system. Although the bus service is not yet paying its way, the patronage which is being extended to it is continually growing, and the tramway committee has, as a consequence, decided that the service should be continued for another six months, after which it will then again be considered. The report submitted to the council shows that from September 18th to B27 December 6th a total of 144,449 passengers was carried and a revenue of £915 earned. The actual number of passengers carried in the first week of the bus service was 12,039, the revenue per busmile being 11.34d., whereas in the last week for Which figures sic availablei.e., December 6th-13,723 passengers were carried, the earnings being 12.65d. per bus-mile.
The tramway manager contends that the buses are serving a useful purpose. The service has not yet had a fair oppor tunity of eater:ng for any pleasure traffic on account of its having been commenced at such a late period of the year. The buses eater chiefly fox. residents in the area, although with the advent of the summer months and the completion of the golf course it is anticipated that. returns will show a considerable improvement in the near future.
The actual loss incurred on the service for the period mentioned above was £322, or, roughly, 4.156d. per bus-mile.