Bradford's Future Passenger Transport.
Page 51
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1E1ACED with heavy charges for tram12 way track renewals the Bradford City Council recently gave definite instructions to the tramways committee to the effect that the future policy of the-department should be to consider, so far as renewals of track are concerned, the use of trolley-vehicles or motorbuses. The matter arose in connection with the relaying of about a mile of track in Manningham Lane, one of the busiest thoroughfares in the city, which it was necessary to close for through traffic for about three weeks. Tradesmen in the district raised serious objection to this interference with trade, and this had the effect of introducing the question of abandoning the tram track. The tramways committee had to bring he whole position before the council, although originally it was intended that work should be commenced before the meeting of the council. The substitution of tramways by motorbuses was at one time seriously proposed, but when it was realized what a volume of tramway traffic there was on this section it was seen that this proposal was not practicable. Heaton, Frizinghall, Shipley, Bailclon Bridge, Saltaire, Nab' Wood, Bingley and Crossflatts services all pass along Manningham Lane, and to take up the Manniugham Lane tracks would also have meant the closing down of these sections.
The cost of the work of renewal staggered members of the council, however, and this led to a request from the full council to the tramways committee that a report should he presented as to what was to happen in the future. In the meantime, it is interesting to note that the township of Clayton, outside the city, has been connected up with trolley-buses, which run over the tram track from'the centre of the city to the city boundary, and it is proposed to replace the tramway service to the suburb of Allerton by vehicles of the same type. The activities of the motorbus department have also been extended. A service run by Messrs. Blythe and Berwick across from Lister Park to Bankfoot has been duplicated by the corporation, and a number of other routes has been opened out.
The report presented by the tramways manager (Mr. It. H. Wilkinson), in response to the instruction of the city council, foreshadows the scrapping of
other tramway tracks. No wholesale scheme of abandonment is recommended, but Mr. Wilkinson suggests that as each year's programme of renewals comes up for consideration the position should be dealt with on its merits. Four sections of tramway are due for renewal during the coming year, and the following are the costs of the various systems of transport on each service:—
Five Lane Ends to Idle.—Tramway renewal, 127,828; trolley-bus, £19,102; motorbus, 117,240.
Rushton Road to Leeds Road Depot.—Tromway renewal, 12,709. Five Lane Ends to Thackley.—Trnmway renewal, 167,039; trolley-bus, £1,800; motorbus, 127,000. Salisbury Road to Wyke Town Gate.—Tramway renewal, 139,017.
In the case of the Five Lane Ends to Idle and the Five Lane Ends to Thackley sections it is suggested that trolley-buses should be adopted in place of trams. The use of trolley-vehicles or motorbuses in place of the trams in Leeds Road is out of the question, whilst no decision has been arrived at with regard to the Salisbury Road to Wyke section. The figures given above do not refer to any likely increase in takings which would be possible owing to more rapid services, and do not take into consideration the fact that, in the case of trolley-buses or motorbuses, the reinstatement of the road would have to be paid for once only, whereas in the case of tramway tracks the road would have to be attended to afterwards and there would be some charge for track maintenance.
Mr. Wilkinson states that, as a general rule, for the out-districts or routes requiring an infrequent service of over twenty minutes' interval the motorbus is most suitable. Where the interval is between five minutes and twenty minutes the trolley-bus is most suitable, but with a closer service than five minutes the tramcar is recommended. "This rule cannot be rigidly adhered to in practice on Recount of the utility of the motorbus, which, although more costly to operate, demands attention throne-1i its distinguishing characteristics of flexibility and independence of extraneous equipment," adds Mr. Wilkinson.