BUS NEWS IN BRIEF
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• The Bill to provide for the reorganization of the London Transport System was introduced in the Commons on Wednesday by Mr. Richard Marsh, Minister of Transport.
One effect of the legislation will be that the underground and the central buses will be transferred from the nationalized London Transport Board to a new London Transport executive, the responsibility of Greater London Council.
The green country buses and Greenline coaches will go to the National Bus Company which will be set up under the Transport Act, 1968.
• Increased revenue yielded by Glasgow's higher bus fares from August 4 to November 4 amounted to £250,000, compared with an estimate of £276,000, air. Graham Spence, sub-convener of the transport committee, said at a meeting of Glasgow Corporation on November 21.
The loss of passengers was 8.39 per cent, whereas the estimate had been 8.33 per cent.
• One-man buses may soon be introduced on certain Perth routes. Alexanders, who operate the city service, told the town council that because of the shortage of platform staff it was difficult to maintain schedules, The company has asked the council to agree to one-man buses on certain routes for • a trial period of several months, with the eventual aim of converting the whole fleet.
• BET Omnibus Services, a subsidiary of British Electric Traction Company, has announced that the purchase of the capital of Murphy Bros. for £8m has been completed. Mr. R. A. Taylor has been appointed a director and elected chairman of Murphy; Mr, A. F. R. Carling has also been appointed a director.
Mr. H. Murphy and Mr. P. Murphy are continuing to serve as joint managing directors; Mr. P. Murphy has resigned from the board.
• Although Duple Motor Bodies Ltd. has sold its works at Hendon, the company has arranged to retain 54,000 sq.ft. of office and factory space, together with vehicle parts, on a 21-year lease. This will house the safes company, repairs and service facilities for the South of England, head office administration and the design and drawing offices.
In his annual report the chairman, Mr. H. W. Sydenham, states that the transfer of manufacturing from Hendon to Blackpool is well under way, and extension of the Blackpool works is being undertaken.
Duple's group profit for the year ended June 30 1968 was £135,124 compared with £213,629 in the preceding year. Net profit in 1968 was £75,748 (£126.872).
• Watts International of London SVV6 reports a rapidly expanding demand for the LondonAthens coach service which it runs. The 1969 programme has been expanded to provide 26 departures from London between March and November next year.