• MIDDLESBROUGH'S MUNICIPAL BUS RESULTS.
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Figures of Working Relating to the Corporation's Bus System, which, after having Recorded a Big Loss for Several Years, is now Established on a Profitable Basis.
FACTS and figures which have recently been issued relating to the operation of motorbus services by the Middlesbrough Corporation reveal a very encouraging position for the year ended March 31st last as compared with previous years. In the past there has been a steady annual working loss on this branch of the Corporation's activities and this has necessitated the contribution of a considerable sum from the rates towards the upkeep of the system.
For the past year's working, however, the services show a working profit—a very small one, only amounting to £364, it is true, but a balance on the right side nevertheless. Moreover, further gratification is to be found in the fact that the charge upon the rates this ,year has been much less than for the past two or three years. The result is all the more surprising when it is borne in mind that the mileage covered by the vehicles and the number of passengers carried were less than those for the previous years, and this naturally implies that working expenses have been materially reduced.
The buses run by the Middlesbrough Corporation operate over 21 route miles and the five vehicles which it had in use during the year carried 877,266 passengers, the mileage covered being 193,358. The average daily total of each vehicle was 113.28 miles, whilst the average speed maintained is shown to be 9.69 m.p.h. Considering the statistics further, we find that the traffic revenue amounted to 15.31d. per bus-mile, whereas the total average working expenses
amounted to 15.02d. -per bus-mile. So far as fuel items are concerned, these show that the vehicles ran, on an average, 6.06 miles to every gallon of fuel used, the actual cost of this item in the tabulation of expenses' being 18d. per mile. The percentage of operating expenditure to receipts was 97.08. The table at the foot shows at a glance a summary of costs, both total and average, for the system during the past three years. It is of interest in so far as it illustrates the manner in which the corporation has turned what was admittedly an unfavourable position into one which holds out considerable promise for the future, particularly as it appears that the services may be maintained entirely free of assistance from the rates.
In the first year of working which is dealt with in the tabulation the total charge upon the rates was .Q10,519, or an average of 10.06d. per bus-mile. In the following year, this item had been reduced to £7,698 and 8-37d. per bus-mile respectively, whilst in the year under review the charge upon the rates was reduced to £4,635, equivalent to 5.74d. per bus-mile. These figures alone indicate that, with a continuance of the present economical method of working, the time may not be far distant when this charge will have entirely disappeared, and when this satisfactory state of affairs is eventually realized, the system will have become entirely self-supporting. The results of the past year's working conclusively prove that the Middlesbrough bus services are being run on sound and efficient lines. t