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Motorway Savings 5% of Capital

27th February 1959
Page 37
Page 37, 27th February 1959 — Motorway Savings 5% of Capital
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

TRAVEL on a motorway, compared 1 with a normal trunk road, at a density of 16,700 vehicles a day, would save £10,000 a mile per year. This sum was sufficient to service at 5 per cent. the capital outlay on such a project as the Birmingham motorway, Dr. W. H. Glanville, director of the Road Research Laboratory, said in London on Tuesday.

If the density reached the " reasonable" figure of 50,000 vehicles a day, the saving would be much greater. A l6mile Los Angeles motorway, which cost $42m., was estimated to have recouped $15.5m. in three years. It was three times as wide as a normal urban highway and allowed vehicles to travel twice as quickly, but the accident rate was only 20 per cent. as great.

S.A. RAILWAY EXPANSION ATTACKED

VjOICES have been raised in South V Africa --against the increasing encroachment by the State-owned railways on the traffic of private-enterprise road transport. The Bureau of Economic Research of Stellenbosch University has advocated greater freedom for hauliers, and the vice-president of the South African Federated Chamber of Industries has attacked the contention that the railways were taking over hauliers' traffic " in the public interest."

In 1955-56, thc road transport services of the railways lost £237,285. In 1956-57 the loss roe to £403,540, although there had been an increase in tonnage carried. The encroachment into the field of private enterprise was at the expense of the customer and taxpayer.

The railways propose to monopolize transport in Durban, and the Association of Chambers of Commerce of South Africa have commented that the use of public funds to replace private investment would reduce the country's development for no other reason than to allow the railways to expand.

NEW 72-SEATERS FOR EAST KENT

THE first of an order for 40 A.E.C. Regent Mk. V 72-seat double-deckers has been delivered to the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., and will be taken into service in Thanet on Sunday. The forward-entrance bodies are by Park Royal and are 30 ft. long and 8 ft. wide.

The new vehicles follow in general the specification of a. prototype which has been operating on the CanterburyWhitstable route, but has a wider stairway. The Regents have four-speed synchromesh gearboxes and air brakes.

Deliveries of all 40 buses are expected to be completed by May. They replace a fleet of Guy " utility " double-deckers.

BUS PROFIT LIKELY

APROFIT of £19,000 on the present financial year is expected by West Hartlepool Transport Committee. Mr. A. Limon, borough treasurer, has recommended that the surplus should be used for buying new vehicles out of revenue.


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