MUNICIPAL BUS RESULTS AT NEWPORT.
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A Report of the Corporation Reveals that the Authority Shows a Definite Inclination to Increase its Motorbus Activities: OME idea of the extensions which
are taking place in connection with the bus system of the Newport Corporation can be gained from the fact that in March, 1927, 16 buses were in use, whereas a year later 30 machines were in regular commission. Of the total fleet 18 are Karriers with capacities ranging from 20 to 30 seats, the others being Leylands with capacities ranging from 30 to 84 seats. At the end of March last the corporation had been operating buses for four complete years, and the vehicles were then in use on routes with a total mileage of approximately 28.
According to the report of Mr. N. J. Young, M.B.E., the general manager of the electricity and tramways department, for the year ended March 31st last, the vehieles covered an aggregate mileage of 448,752 in the year and carried 2,173,104 passengers as against 1,403,942 a year earlier.
The revenue account for the buses shows that the total receipts were 122,713, whilst working expenses totalled £21,182, thus showing a gross profit of £1,531, this figure comparing with £195 in the previous year. Interest on loans, sinking fund charges and other items, however, result in a net loss of 11,903 being shown on the year's working, this figure comparing with a sum of £1,176 in the preceding year, when the total amount of shaking fund and loans repaid was only about one-half what it was in the past municipal year.
Some idea of rim comporation's in
tentions regarding the use of buses can, perhaps, be gathered from the fact that during the year a new bus service was started, this being partly to replace trams upon the Malpas Road section.
The total borrowing powers which the corporation has in connection with its buses amounts to £45,034, but the gross total expenditure incurred on the system has so far been £35,541.
The following items taken from the report are of interest, particularly when compared with the figures for last year, these being given in parentheses: Average traffic revenue per bus-mile, 12.0364. (12.182d.); average total revenue per bus-mile, 12.147d. (12.307d.) ; average working expenses per bus-mile, 11.3284. (121531); average fair paid per passenger, 2.485d. (2.6394.) ,• passengers carried per busmile, 4.842 (4.614). The reduction in the average working expenses per busmile during the past year is a point to note.
The total deficiency on the working of the municipal tramways system in Newport during the yenr under review, including the cost of renewal work carried out upon the permanent way, amounted to £2,322.