Operating Aspects of
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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
HOURS ORDER TO BE RENEWED?
THE existing Variation Order under. Section 19 of the 1930 Act, dealing with the hours of drivers of public-service vehicles, expires in May. It is understood that an agreement has been reached between the organizations concerned to apply for a renewal.
For some time there has been a feeling among operators of contract carriages and excursions and tours that greater elasticity should be permitted in those cases where there is a short driving period followed by a long rest at the vehicle's destination.
150,000 TROLLEYBUS PLAN AT BRADFORD.
STILL another tram-abandonment scheme has been recommended by
Bradford Transport Committee. At its meeting on Monday, the committee decided to recommend the city council to replace tiams by trolleybuses on the route from Bradford to Tong Cemetery at an estimated cost of £50,000.
The question of scrapping the trams on the Bradford-Crossfiatts route and substituting trolleybuses or petrol buses is still under consideration.
STRONG ALLEGATIONS IN HIGHLAND TOURS CASE.
RIVALRY existing between two operators of Highland tours was revealed at Aberdeen, last Friday, when David MacBrayne, Ltd., Glasgow. applied for the renewal of an existing licence. Messrs. A. and J. McPherson, Fort William, objected.
Messrs. McPherson claimed that their own facilities were ample; that the MacBrayne concern bad not operated tours allowed in its previous licence; that it had selected certain tours from Fort William because these were also operated by Messrs. McPherson, whom the MacBrayne company was trying to
t squeeze," and that the applicant had introduced unfair competition.
.Mr. Donald McPherson, for the objectors, said that he had made observations and found that, for a certain period last summer, only 435 out of 2,238 seats offered by MacBrayne's for certain tours had been occuoierl Mr. Joseph McPherson said that his firm were prepared to discuss the matter with the MacBrayne concern. When Mr. H. Riches, chairman, suggested that this course might he taken, Mr. J. Mitchell, for the applicant, said the suggestion would be considered, but he was prepared to deny the allegations made against his client. The hearing was adjourned until April 2.
UNION ATTACK ON SMALL OWNERS.
SMALL operators are the subject of a campaign which the Transport and General Workers Union is carrying out in the nine counties served by Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd. Efforts to secure better wages and conditions are being made.
Speaking at a midnight meeting last Saturday, Mr. S. Ison, district Organizer of the Union, alleged that " duties spread over from 6 a.m, until midnight for less than 50s. a week are the rule rather than the exception."
MUNICIPAL BUSES FOR HAMILTON?
HAMILTON may have a municipal bus service. A special committee of the town council has been appointed to consider the matter and it will submit recommendations to the next meeting of the council.
Bailie Hunter was responsible for the committee being appointed. " I think there are distinct possibilities about a municipal bus service for the burgh," he informed a correspondent.
LANCASHIRE OPERATORS SUPPORT C.M.U.A.
CONSIDERATION was given to the policy of the C.M.U.A. at a meeting of the passenger section of the NorthWestern Division, at Preston, on Wednesday. Other matters which were considered were the formation of a passenger-vehicle operators' committee, and the means by which uniform views could be obtained.
RAIL OBJECTIONS MERE FISHING"
SIIRPRISE was expressed at a sitting of the North-Western Traffic Commissioners, in Manchester, last Friday, when it was found that the railway objections to the applications of over a score of Lancashire coach operators for Coronation facilities were merely formal, for the purpose of " investigating." Mr. G. H. P. Barnes announced that the railways were not departing from their usual fares "on this very special event."
Several of the applicants had already secured hotel accommodation for their customers at double the ordinary daily rate. One who was asked how he managed it, said: " Well, we take about 1,200 people a year to these hotels, and, naturally, are given some consideration."
Fares were generally those established for trips to Wembley Stadium and both the express-carriage and the excursions and tours operators were limited as to vehicles, the latter group to be restricted in proportion to actual bookings. Sightseeing fantails " were left to the determination of the backing areas.
EIGHTEEN SUMMONSES, BUT NO LOSS TO REVENUE.
EIGHTEEN counts of using a bus without a Road Fund licence were preferred against George W. Littlewood, bus proprietor, Tirphil, at Pontlottyn Court. it was explained for the prosecution that there had been no loss to the revenue incurred by the offences.
The Stipendiary: "Why 'bring the cases? There are outstanding convictions against him, and he has been fined amounts totalling £60, and here you are prosecuting him again."
The Stipendiary added that he had previously made observations regarding Littlewood and had suggested that the Commissioners should act in such a way that he could not commit offences, that is, refuse him a licence.
It was stated that Monmouth County Council, prosecuting, would not press for a penalty.
The Stipendiary dismissed all the cases, but warned the defendant that he must pay the outstanding fines.
RAILWAY CLOSED: BUS SERVICES CUT
POINTED reference to the L.N.E. Railway company's decision to withdraw suburban trains between Aberdeen and Dyco, shortly after W. Alexander and Sons, Ltd., was allowed to curtail its Donside bus service, was made, last week, at a sitting of the Northern Scotland Traffic Commissioners.
An assurance was given that when the 'Alexander concern applied for a reduction of the service it was not aware that the suspension of rail facilities was contemplated. In any event, it was maintained, the buses were sufficient to cope with any additional traffic that might arise from the development.
Mr. Henry Riches, chairman, said that the Commissioners were a little disappointed that neither the Alexander zoncern, if the facts were known to it, nor the railway .company's representative intimated that the withdrawal of the rail passenger service on that route was contemplated. If, after the withdrawal of the train service, there were 'somplaints that the preAent road facilities were inadequate, the Commissioners would reconsider the whole position.
DUNFERMLINE BUSES SOON. nFFICIAL sanction to replace by
buses the tramways which have ierved Dunfermline for more than 25 years was given last week by the gorthern Scotland Traffic Commissioners. W. Alexander and Sons, Ltd., Falkirk, was granted licences to
operate buses on two routes as from April 2. Decision on a third service was delayed until a later hearing.
Mr. R. W. Currie (for the applicant) said that the whole of the shares of the Dunfermline District Traction Co. (the owner of the trains) were purchased two years ago by the Alexander concern. Although his client held all the shares, he could not say that in Jaw the company was the owner of the Dunfermline concern.
" RED AND WHITE "ACQUIRES "BLUE BELLE."
ALREADY the largest independent undertaking in the country, Red and White Services, Ltd., Chepstow, has added still further to its interests by acquiring Blue Belle Coaching Services, Ltd. The latter company, also well known, operates from the London Terminal Coach Station to the principal south and south-east coastal resorts.
The Blue Belle fleet comprises some 30 A.E.C. Regals, including a dozen 35-seater observation coaches.
FORGETFUL BUS PASSENGERS.
FROM Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., Chester, comes the disclosure that about 25,000 articles are left in the company's buses every year, and only 25 per cent, of them arc claimed. The worst month of the year for this kind of forgetfulness is September. During the winter few articles are left on the buses.
Umbrellas, gloves and mackintoshes are left in greatest profusion, but there is also a fair proportion of handbags, and even of odd shoes.
POLICE FAIL TO MAKE OUT CASE
PA.A N interesting legal argument preceded the dismissal, at Doncaster West Riding Court, of a summons against a Gateshead coach driver for driving an express carriage without a speedometer in working order, and of a summons against United Automobile Services, Ltd., for "permitting."
After a police witness had given evidence of stopping the coach and finding the speedometer out of order, Mr. A. L. Prime, defending, submitted that there was no case made out. There was no proof that the vehicle was a public service vehicle, or that it was being used as an express carriage. He denied that at the time of the alleged offence it was a public service vehicle, also that it was an express carriage.
A public service vehicle, the chairman pointed out, was a motor vehicle used for carrying passengers for hire or reward, other than a contract carriage. On that point alone it seemed that the charge failed, because the only evidence was that the coach was being driven along the road and that it belonged to United Automobile Services, Ltd. Further, the prosecution had not attempted to prove that the vehicle was use express carriage.
SELLS OUT AFTER 32 YEARS.
A PIONEER independent operator, PI A. W. Berry and Sons, Ltd., Colchester, has sold out to the Eastern National Omnibus Co., Ltd. Mr. A. W. Berry has been engaged in passenger transport for 32 years.