LATEST NEWS FROM THE TRAFFIC AREAS
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PROPAGANDA COMMITTEE FORMED.
AT the meeting held, last week, to consider the travel-by-road campaign organized by Travel and Transport, Ltd., a committee consisting of the following well-known members of the passenger-transport industry was elected :—Messrs. F. Monkman, J. Coleman, G. Nowell, R. Claxton and C. Rudy. It is expected that some important development will occur during the next week or so.
YORKSHIRE TRAM SYSTEM TO BE REPLACED BY BUSES.
N agreement with the Yorkshire —Traction Co., Ltd., to abandon the Dearne District Light Railway has been ratified by the Wombwell, leVath, Boltonon-Dearne and Thurnscoe authorities. A bus system will be put into operation as from October 1, 1933.
The Yorkshire concern is to buy out the local authorities on an annuity basis, guaranteeing 13,000 a year for the first six months. After that period, the company will pay three-quarters of the net profits over that part of the services coinciding with the tram route, with a minimum of £2,000 and a maximum of £3,000.
INCREASED RATES ON TYNESIDE. '
AT a recent meeting of South Shields
Curponation's transport committee, the tramways manager reported on his B38 attendance at a meeting of bus operators in Newcastle, with regard to the recent increase in the price of petrol and its effect on bus fares. He submitted a list of recommended increases in fares.
He stated that he would report again on the matter, after the suggested new fares had been considered by the Northern Traffic Commissioners on the application of a local bus company.
COMMISSIONER APPLAUDS OPPOSITION TO HIGHER FARES.
THE chairman of the South Wales
Commissioners, Mr.. A. T. James, K.C., warmly commended as desirable public spirit the opposition of Tynant and Beddau residents to proposals of certain bus operators to increase from 6d. to 10d. the bus fares for the BeddauPontypridd return journey.
The inhabitants instructed a solicitor to state their case. They said that the 6d. fare had obtained since 1925, the bus companies had made no previous suggestion that they could not make the fare pay and that the proposed increase was, in any event, unreasonable. The Commissioners allowed an increase in the return fare to Sd.
LONDON MEETING CONSIDERS BIG CONTROL SCHEME.
A MEETING was called by the Motor
Hirers and Coach Services Association, Ltd., at 157, Great Portland Street, London, W., at 2.30 p.m., last Tuesday. The Press was not admitted, but we understand that the business was to consider the establishment of a remarkable scheme for centralizing the control of booking agents, primarily in the London area. We hope to give further information shortly.
ROUTES OF MYSTERY TOURS MUST BE SUBMITTED.
THE Southern Traffic Commissioners have ruled that operators who wish to run mystery tours must submit full details of the routes to be traversed. Major General Sir Reginald Ford, chairman of the Commissioners, said he expected that a similar regulation would be applied to other areas and that it has been made for the safety of the public.
STEERING ARMS: A COMPROMISE.
IN connection with that part of the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness) Regulations relating to steering arms, the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Associalion, Ltd., has been informed that, probably, no exception would be taken to the use of varnish on these components, if it could readily be removed, so that the bare metal may be inspected. This information is contained in a letter, dated November 25, from the Ministry of Transport.
LONDON-TYPE BUSKS FOR MADRID?
MESSAGE from Madrid states that a bus of the type used in London is being given a trial on the MadridToledo route. It is said that the London pattern of vehicle is being considered as a successor to the Madrid trams.
COMPREHENSIVE NORTIIERN NEGOTIATIONS.
A MEETING of employees of the
Northern, Wakefield, Tynemouth and District, Sunderland and District, and the General County Omnibus Companies, was held at Newcastle, at midnight on Saturday last, to discuss a comprehensive agreement to be drawn up by the companies. At present, each company has its own arrangements. It is understood that a negotiating committee was appointed to interview the management.
TO DEVON FOR CHRISTMAS. A. SEVEN-DAYS' Christmas holiday at tho English Riviera is one of the interesting seasonal coach tours organized this year ;by the Northern General Trnnsport Co., Ltd. The fare of £1) 9s. covers a comprehensive list of amusements during the four days spent at Paignton and Torquay.
L.C.C.'S AMENDMENT TO LONDON TRANSPORT BILL. THE Parliamentary committee of the
London County Council recommends that, in the event of the London Passenger Transport Bill being amended to provide for the appointment of the members of the London Passenger Transport Board being vested in trus
tees, instead of in the Minister of Transport, the council concurs in the inclusion of its chairman, for the time being, as one of such trustees.
Steps are to be taken to secure the amendment of the Bill to provide for the inclusion in the Board of persons of local-government experience. A report of last Tuesday's debate on the measure appears on another page.
TWENTY GUY TROLLEY-BUSES AT DERBY.
THE delivery of six new Guy trolley
buses to Derby Corporation has increased to 20 the fleet of trolley-buses of this make operated by the municipality. The corporation is converting the tramways to trolley-bus operation, which, it is estimated, will take three years.
The first conversion was made in January last, when six Guy trolleybuses were purchased, a further eight vehicles being put into service in September, whilst the latest six vehicles are covering a route opened last month.
Within the first three months of trolley-bus working, the number of passengers carried increased by 17 per cent., whilst there was a notable improvement in speed.
ANOTHER TROLLEY-BUS BILL. A BILL to substitute trolley-buses for trains is to be promoted in Parliament, next year, by the Torquay Tramways Co. If the Bill be passed, the conversion will, it is said, involve an expenditure of £190,000 to £200,000 and the work will be carried out next winter.
STOPPING PLACES FIXED. WAKEFIELD watch committee has
made arrangements for bus stopping places after a conference attended by the following :—Messrs. G. H. Margrave (representing all services controlled by the West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd., and associated companies), E. Baines (J. Bullock and Sons (1928), Ltd.), H. Burrows (T. Burrows and Sons), C. Silverwood (E. Silverwood), Anse11 (Fox Transport Service) and J. J. Granter (United Services).
SOUTHDOWN CO.'S PROTECTION FOR EASTBOURNE.
AT a sitting of the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners at Eastbourne, last week, an arrangement entered into between Eastbourne Rural District Council and Southclown Motor Services, Ltd., was submitted.
The agreement provides that any passenger picked up in the borough and set down at any point on a corporation bus route, or within 440 yds. of a terminal point, be charged a minimum fare of 4d., this also applying to passengers picked up on a corporation bus route, or within 440 yds. of the terminal, and set down in the borough.
The agreement is subject to the qualification that, where the distance of 440 yds. would take a passenger outside the borough, the limit be to the boundary. The Commissioners adjourned the matter to enable the company and the municipality to consider certain details.
RHONDDA TO CHANGE TO BUSES?
A BILL to provide for the substitution of a bus undertaking for the existing tramways system is to be promoted in Parliament by Rhondda Urban District Council. The tramways undertaking was leased to the Rhondda Tramway Co., for 42 years, the period expiring in 1950.
Under the present agreement, the company pays the council an annual sum of £2,250, less income tax, and it will continue for a further period to pay an annual amount to the municipality.
SIMPLIFIED LICENSING PROCEDURE DEMANDED. MORECAMBE town clerk stated at a meeting of the Lancashire NonCounty Boroughs Association that, in his opinion, the time had now arrived when some strong representation should be made to the Ministry of Transport, with the view to the procedure of licensing public service vehicles being simplified and made less expensive. The hon. secretary concurred in this view, having regard to the experience of Lancaster Corporation.
COUPON SYSTEM TO GO? CERTAIN operators in Stoke-on Trent have applied to the West Midland Traffic Commissioners for permission to cease the issue of cheap fares on the coupon system, and to replace them by workmen's special return tickets and ordinary return fares.
MORE TROLLEY-BUSES.
AN application is to be made to the
Minister of Transport, before December 23, to enable the Nottinghamshire and -Derbyshire Traction Co. to operate trolley-buses on certain routes in the counties of Derby and Nottingham.
CHEAP FARES FOR COUNCILLORS.
AT a meeting of the Lancashire Non County Boroughs Association, reference was made to the issue, at specially reduced rates, of contract tickets to councillors. It was stated that counsel to the Association of Municipal Corporations had advised that councillors who accepted such facilities would be subject to disqualification under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882. OSSETT TRAM-REPLACEMENT SCHEME.
IN connection with the substitution of buses for trams, Mr. W. 13. Cownie, on behalf of the National Electrie Construction Co., Ltd., has informed Ossett Corporation that, owing to the increase in the cost of petrol, and other conditions, his company could not see its way to agree to a single fare of 2d. between Dewsbury and Ossett. It was decided not to oppose the suggested single fare of 2id.
CHILDREN'S PARES IN NORTH. THE Northern Traffic Commissioners propose to adopt the procedure, in connection with children's fares, reported last week, in relation to the West Midland Area.
LICENCE TO BE SUSPRNDED? THE inquiry of the North-Western Traffic Commissioners, to enable Mr. J. Jenking, of Blackpool, to show cause why certain road-service licences should not be suspended or revoked, will he held at the Town Hall, Blackpool, on December 8.