PHASES OF PASSENGER TRAVEL
Page 71
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Notes on Every Aspect of Coach and Bus Development.
need for suitable accommodation
for passengers before and after a journey by passenger vehicle is being actively met by the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., of Chester-leStreet, which has -established a large station at Gateshead, this being capable of dealing with several hundred buses per day, whilst another has just been opened at Durham. A third is rapidly nearing completion at Newcastle and is already in partial use.
The Durham station, a photograph of which we reproduce, fills a considerable need, for the city is one of the largest centres of motorbus traffic in the north country, and congestion is acute on • account of the city's narrow and winding streets. It is a handsome and well • appointed station, and already it is being used by over 2,000 vehicles per week.
By arrangement with the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., the United
• Automobile Services, Ltd., which also works services on an extensive scale from Durham City, uses the station as well, so that it provides a useful and convenient changing-point for passengers who desire to travel from Newcastle or Gateshead to any part of the county of Durham and to North Yorkshire.
The station is situated on the main north approach to Durham, and it is in the shopping area. It has a frontage of approximately 120 ft. and a depth of 145 ft. All vehicles enter at the south end of the station and set down their passengers. They then proceed to one of tfie five spacious loading platforms, which are entirely covered in by a glass and ironwork roof. The platforms used by vehicles engaged on the busier routes are provided with barriers which serve to regulate the queues of passengers. It is interesting to note that, in view of the rapidly growing popularity of double-deckers in the north, the roof is of such a height as to permit the use of .vehicles of that type. At the rear there is an underground petrol-storage system and pump.
The establishment includes an inquiry office, waiting-rooms, parcels and luggage-rooms, and the usual conveniences. Uniformed officials are in attendance to advise passengers as to the best means for reaching any destination in the area. It is also used as a departure and booking point for the daily and extended motor-coach tours of the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd.
The Newcastle station, which is to
cost about £25,000, will have 11 platforms. and will, when completed, cope with several million passengers per annum. It is expected that the whole establishment will be in use inabout a month, when it will act as the terminal point for thecompany's many services which are worked from Newcastle.
It is interesting at this juncture to review briefly the remarkable growth of the Northern General Transport Co-, Ltd. Started in 1914, with a fleet of six vehicles, it now covers a huge area with a route mileage of nearly 250, and has an up-to-date fleet of over 300 vehicles, of which 250are of the S.O.S. type.
Besides its local services the company is now entering largely into the longdistance field, and it works regular services to Keswick, Southport and Blackpool, whilst, in conjunction with a number of associated undertakings, it has recently inaugurated a two-hourly service between Tyneside and Manchester, which is meeting with outstanding success. This service was referred to in our issue dated May 21st.