LATEST NEWS FROM THE TRAFFIC AREAS
Page 51
Page 52
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The bLH.C.S.A. Dinner and Dance, MEMBERS of the Motor Hirers and
Coach Services Association, Ltd., are reminded that the second annual dinner and dance will be held at the Connaught Rooms, Great Queen Street, London, W.C.1, on Friday, February 12th, the reception taking place at 6 p.m. Tickets, costing 15s., may be obtained from the secretary at 32, Spring Street, London, W.2.
Grantham's New Bus Station.
WORK has commenced on the Wel ham Street end of the new municipal bus station and car park, which is being constructed at Grantham. Two shelters or waiting rooms are being built, also parcels rooms, operators' offices, rooms for drivers, etc. The surface of the park is to be of concrete. The cost of the work is estimated at nearly £8,000.
Unopposed North-Western Backings.
THE North-Western Commissioners announce that appearance at public sittings is not required in the case of applications for backings, provided that (a) there is n6 representation or objection, or any objection has been satisfied, (b) written intimation to this effect is sent to the Commissioners before hearing, (a) acceptance of local authority conditions is indicated, and (d) the Commissioners are advised whether or not the primary licence has been granted, and, if granted, Whether any particular condition or variation of the application has been attached thereto. Operators should, when writing to the Commissioners as above, quote the correct index letter of the backing application.
Cardiff Station Scheme Approved.
AFTER a controversial meeting, Car
diff City Council approved the desirability of the scheme to erect a bus statinn adjacent to the new Cardiff general railway station.
Double-deekers for the Potteries.
THE West Midlands Commissioners have written to local councils in North Staffordshire, asking their opinions on a proposal by the Potteries Electric Traction td., to run double-deck buses in Co.,;his area. It is not proposed to operate them on the main road between the Six Towns because of low bridges, and as regards other routes double-deck-buses or trams have never before been in use in the Potteries area. Newcastle-under-Lyme Watch Committee has not objected.
U.A.S. Bid for Tees-side Traffic.
RENEWED efforts by United Auto
mobiles Services, Ltd., to obtain* a share in the Tees-side traffic, have been made in the form of application to the Northern Commissioners to license an extension of the company's StocktonSeaton Carew service into West Hartlepool, also the picking up of passengers between Stockton and Billingham (subject to a protective fare) and at the Transporter Bridge. The company states that in the past the corporations had imposed such restrictions at both ends of the route that the returns were poor. Permission to call at the Transporter Bridge is asked only for the
winter months. It was stated that there was only one service running into West Hartlepool on this route, and that was the service of West Hartlepool Corporation. Decision was deferred.
Northern Commissioners to Receive Municipal Representations.
SIR JOHN MAXWELL, chairman of the Northern Scotland Commissioners, who, in the absence through illness of Mr. Henry Riches is acting as chairman of the Northern Commissioners, stated at Stockton the other day that the Commissioners would be prepared to meet representatives of local authorities who wished to make representations in regard to specific cases in which they thought an increase of fares was unjustified. Opportunities would, of course, be afforded to operators and other interested parties to state their views. Complaints with regard to the reduction of certain services also will be considered.
New Name for East Surrey Company. IT is announced that the name of the
East Surrey Traction Co., Ltd., which is a subsidiary of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., and operates bus
services throughout Surrey, is to be changed to London General Country Services, Ltd. It is intended that the company shall take over services now operated by the East Surrey concern and Autocar Services, Ltd., as well as those services to the north of London which have hitherto been operated on behalf of the L.G.O. Co., Ltd., by the National undertaking. Approval has been given by the Board of Trade to the change of name and the headquarters are to be located at Bell Street, Reigate, Surrey. The above official announcement is interesting in view of misleading statements that have found publicity recently. It is untrue, for example, that the entire staff of Green Line Coaches, Ltd., is to be moved to the Reigate offices.
Newport Returns to Penny Fares. NEWPORT (Mon.) Corporation de
cided upon a return to penny bus and tram fares for a period of six months as an experiment It was shown that since the penny fares were abolished the number of passengers taking penny tickets, 1,307,097, had been replaced by only 593,568 passengers taking 134. tickets, thus indicating that some 60 per cent, would not pay the 1d. fare.
Railways Not to Oppose AU Excursions.
A LETTER has been addressed by
the L.M.S. Railway Co. to Sir Reginald Ford, chairman of the Southern Commissioners, stating that the company will not in the ordinary course object to all applications for excursions and tours, but will oppose excursions running in direct opposition to the railway. At a sitting of the Commissioners, representatives of the Southern and Great Western Railway concerns said they did not desire to fight every case, but asked the Commissioners to eliminate services for which the figures were unsatisfactory. There was, they admitted, a demand for express services from places like Birmingham, and within reasonable limits these would not be strenuously opposed.
Long-period Contract .Tickets Wanted.
REDCAR-Town Council has decided
to take up with the Northern Commissioners the question of season tickets on bus services between Middlesbrough and Reclean It was pointed out at the recent meeting of the council that whereas a year or two ago a yearly contract ticket could be obtained for £6 6s., now yearly and half-yearly tickets had been withdrawn. The longest period ticket now available was for three months, the annual cost working out at £9 5s.
S.M.T. Tours for 1932.
WELL in time for the opening motor
coach season, the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., Edinburgh, has published its programme of tours in the form of a handy booklet entitled "All Scotland by Motor Coach." The company's regular London-EdinbUrgh service can be made use of in respect of certain of the tours, which range from 6 days to 12 days, the inclusive cost varying between £11 and £23.
On some of the tours the opportunity is taken to travel through the favourite beauty spots of England, including the Shakespeare Country and the Lake District, whilst, as regards Scotland, the Border Abbeys, the Trossachs, the Highlands and even the Western Isles, including Iona, may be visited. The booklet contains full details of a number of excursions and tours starting from Edinburgh, these ranging from short half-day or one-day trips at
Inclusive fares as low as 7s., to five-day tours costing £9 10s. with all accommodation.
The company's services are excellently run and travellers can rely on being made comfortable in every way.
School Children's Bus Services.
AT a watch-committee meeting in South Shields the town clerk has reported further correspondence with the Traffic Commissioners regarding the question of public-service licences being taken out for the buses engaged in conveying children to the open-air school. He expressed the opinion that the vehicles did not come within any of the definitions of vehicles requiring to be licensed under the Road Traffic Act. He was asked to notify the Commissioners that the Corporation was of the same opinion.
Mr. Hillman's Puss Moths.
TILE plans of Mr. E. Hillman, the
Well-known coach operator of 52b, Itomford Road, London, E.15, to operate regular aeroplane services are developing. He has already three De Havilland Puss Moth two-seater machines and has ordered several more. Apart from private-hire work, which is now being done at 3cl. per mile, Mr. Hillman expects to commence within three or four weeks a regular sersice between Maylands Aerodrome, Sunnytown, near Romford, and a special aerodrome at Gorleston, near Yarmouth. the fare (including picking tip in the London area) working out at about 25s. single or £2 108. return. The motor journey from London to Romford takes about 20 minutes and the flight to Yarmouth`about one hour. It is hoped to run two services daily, and other routes are under consideration. In the space of three years Mr. Hillman has developed a coaching business on which 107 Gilford vehicles are employed.
Local Support for the Green Line.
THE highways committee of Cater
ham Urban District Council has considered the approval by the South Eastern and Metropolitan Commissioners of the Green Line coach services between Tatsfield and London, and Edenbridge and London, both services to pass through the high-level area of Warlingham, also the approval by the South Eastern Commissioners of an additional service between Chelsham and London,. this not being agreed to by the Metropolitan Commissioner. The committee, being of opinion that such service would be in the interest of the public, and especially beneficial to residents in Warlingham, has recommended the council to support the appeal of the Green Line concern against the Metropolitan Commissioner's decision and this recommendation has been adopted by the council.
Increasing Bus Seating Capacity.
NORTHAMPTON Transport Com.; rnittee is considering converting 19 double-deck bases (seatingk 52 and 54 passengers) so that they will accom modate 58 persons. This will cost £334, comprising 11,52 for new seatsand £182 (£9 12s, per bus) for extra licence duty.
Blackburn Opposes Accrington.
A CCRINGTON Corporation has applied to the North-Western Commissioners for permission to run its bus service with a greater. number of intermediate stages between Accrington and Blackburn, maintaining the through fares of 41d. single and 8d. return, RS on the old tramway services, but with stages at higher fares. The two corporations for many years operated a joint tramway between the towns through Church and Oswaldtwistle.
Accrington substituted hoses and began a through bus service, but Blackburn retained its trams over its own portion of the route, amounting to about four miles out of five miles. Blackburn Corporation opposes the creation of more intermediate stages, contending that the effect will be to injure its tramways, The opposing body also asks that the through bus fares should be 6d. single and 10d. return. The decision has been deferred.
A Municipality Acts as Watch Dog.
AT a highways committee meeting at Northileet it has been reported that Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., has been running buses from Gravesend to Old Perry Street without a licence for that particular ser vice. The company, it was stated, had obtained a licence to operate from Gravesend to Ash via Perry Street, but was actually operating the shorter journey. It was decided to draw the attention of the Traffic Commissioners to the matter.
An Association Formed in Cornwall.
THERE was a large attendance of coach operators from the West Cornwall district at a meeting held at Redruth last week under the auspices of the recently formed Cornwall Coach and Motor Users Association. It was stated that over 60 per cent, of the owners in the western district had already become members of the association, and after considerable discussion it was resolved to form a western branch, Mr. W. R. jenkin (Penzance) and Mr. EL Rosewarne (Porthieven) being chosen chairman and honorary secretary respectively, with Messrs. Mundy (CambOrne), Simmons (Stithians), Harvey (Monsehole), Hitchens (Newlyn) and Whear (Tuckingmill) as members of the Committee. There was a long discussion on the Road Traffic Act,