Northern Roadways Wins : Fights B.E.T. on Coventry-Glasgow Route

26th September 1952, Page 68

26th September 1952

Page 68

Page 68, 26th September 1952 — Northern Roadways Wins : Fights B.E.T. on Coventry-Glasgow Route

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IT was announced on Monday that the Scottish Licensing Authority lhad decided to grant licences to Northern Roadways, Ltd., to operate express services from Glasgow and Edinburgh to London. The decision is contingent upon backings being granted by the Metropolitan Licensing Authority. On the same day, Northern Roadways, Ltd., which has applied for licences for a service from Glasgow to Birmingham, objected to applications by three B.E.T. companies for licences for a service from Coventry to Glasgow.

The new licences for services from Scotland to London operate from October .1. The present licences cease to have effect on September 30, having been revoked on appeal by the Minister of Transport. The application was for 20 coaches per day in both directions from each of Elie Scottish cities. No date has yet been fixed by the Metropolitan Licensing Authority to hear the application for a backing, but Northern Roadways, Ltd., is considering the position with regard to .running the services until the hearing takes place.

7 The company's application fina new Licence for the Glasgow-Birmingham route is still to be heard.

The three REA*, concerns which applied jointly to the West 'Midland Licensing Authority, at Birmingham, on Monday, for a Coventry-Glasgow service were the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., and the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd. Northern Roadways, Ltd., joined the Railway Executive in objecting.

Mr. W. Blackhurst, for the three applicants, said that the proposal was to run a once-daily service throughout the year, leaving Coventry at 5.10 p.m. and arriving in Glasgow at 7.55 a.m., calling at Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Manchester, Bolton and Lancaster. Coaches would leave Glasgow at 10 p.m., arriving at Coventry at 12.50 p.m. next day. The single fare would be 34s. 6d. and the return fare 53s. 9c1., compared with the railway return fare of £4 12s. Mr. BlaCkhurst said that a service had been offered for many years, but it necessitated changes of coach and had other limitations. Northern Roadways, Ltd., had authority to run from Glasgow to Birmingham, but could not pick up passengers in Birmingham.

Mr. W. P. James, the Licensing Authority, said that he would not give his decision until he had heard the application of Northern Roadways, Ltd, GUY 2-3-TON OILER

AAMONGST the Guy exhibits on Stand 41 at the Commercial Motor Show at Earls Court is a Perkins P4 oil-engined version of the Wolf 2-3tonner, This power unit is offered as an alternative to the Guy 3.3-litre overhead-valve petrol engine, Which is shown as a separate exhibit.

Quantity production of the new model is planned for the spring of 1953.

58-SEATER WEIGHS 6 TONS .2 CWT.

PRELIMINARY estimates of the weight of the new Daimler CLG and CLD chassis with M.C.W. 58-seat body have proved to be far too conservative. It was calculated that the body would weigh 2i tons (" The Commercial Motor" last week).

In fact, reports Mr. W. C. S. Chatfield, general sales manager of Metropolitan Cammell Weymann, Ltd., the body weighs 1 ton 16 cwt. 1 qr. and the complete vehicle 6 tons 2 cwt. This astonishing achievement is seen on Stand 26 at the Commercial Motor Show,

B.R.S. Traffic 2:1:in. Tons Down

IN a year British Road Services has lost over 21rn.' tons of traffic and vehicle-mileage has dropped by 22m. Receipts remain-stable over comparable 36-week periods.

In the four weeks to September 7, revenue totalled £5,731,000. compared with £5,047,006 in the 'previous four weeks and £6,101,000 a year ago. During the first 36 weeks of the year, £52,252,000 was earned, contrasted with £52,132,006 last year:

The first _32 weeks show a drop from 28.2m. Ions Carried in 1951 to 25.9m. tons in 1952 and from 473.3m. vehiclemiles to 459.3m. vehicle miles.

During the four weeks to September 7, the British Transport Commission's provincial and Scottish road passenger transport interest yielded £4,670,000 (£4,213,000 last year). Revenue for the first 36 weeks of the year totals 03,575,000 (£30,482,000).

London Transport's contribution to the B.T.C. was £5,377,000 in the four weeks ended September 7 (£4,725,000 last year) and £46,013,000 in the 36 weeks (£40,983,000).

MORE LOAD AT LESS COST PRICES have been reduced and load 1 capacities, in specified:sizes, raised in the Michelin range of Metallic tyres. As examples, the new price of the C.20 cover, nailproof tube and flap, at £37 17s. 2d., represents a saving of over £11, and in the D.20 size there has been a reduction of SS 14. 84., the current price being .£50 8s. fidi Although the load capacity of -the' C.20 tyre has not been altered, 'the D.20 is scheduled to carry 2 tons 11 cwt., an increase a 3:4. cwt.

The effect of the changes in price and load capacity is shown by comparison of price per cwt. capacity. In relating the current and former ratios, there has been a reduction of 20 per cent, for the A.20 and B.20 tyres complete, 22, per pent. for the C.20 and 16 per cent. for the D.20.

BELFAST TO SCRAP TRAMS A PROGRAMME of tram conversion is to be implemented by Belfast Transport Department. All services except one will be changed to motorbus or trolleybus operation in 12 months.

Twenty-four new trolleybuses were recently delivered and 100 motorburils are on order. These are being delivered at the rate of six a month, but it is hoped that this number will be increased to eight.

PUBLIC WORKS EXHIBITION

THE Public Works. and Municipal Services Congress and Exhibition will take place at Olympia, London, from November 3-8. The autumn meeting of the Institute of Public Cleansing will be held on November 6-7, in conjunction with the Exhibition.