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Operating Aspects of PASSENGER TRANSPORT

2nd June 1933, Page 60
2nd June 1933
Page 60
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Page 60, 2nd June 1933 — Operating Aspects of PASSENGER TRANSPORT
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TWO COMBINE CO.S TO ACQUIRE INDEPENDENT?

RUMOURS have been circulating to the effect that the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., mid the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., have jointly acquired the London-Manchester service of Majestic Express Motors, Ltd., Manchester. We are given to understand that the rumours are not substantially correct, but we learned on Tuesday last that negotiations were proceeding between the three concerns and that no agreement had then been reached.

YORKSHIRE OPERATORS "SPLIT" ON CONTRACT WORK.

THE definite split among operators in Yorkshire on the subject of contract and pre-booked party work is indicated by two conflicting resolutions -sent to the Minister of Transport, one by the Yorkshire Regional Fares Committee and the other by Yorkshire Coach Owners, Ltd.

The fares committee considers that any attempt to restrict legitimate eontract work is contrary to the public interest and that the unsatisfactory position created by the interpretation of clause 61 of the Road Traffic Act calls for immediate action by the Minister.

Regarding a suggestion that some arrangement might be made between operators in connection with pre-booked parties, without the Traffic Commissioners being given further, powers, Mr. Keeling stated, at a meeting at which a resolution on the above lines was passed, that the was quite sure his members wished the Commissioners to have control of private-hire work, provided that the modifications asked for by the B42 Y.C.O. were granted. If any other workable scheme were put forward, be would gladly consider it.

Over 100 members of Yorkshire Coach Owners, meeting in Leeds, last week, unanimously .passed a resolution to the effect that the Association objects to the resolution of the fares committee. . The former organization contends that the definition of contract in the Act is sufficiently clear.

At its meeting, the Y.C.O. members instructed the secretary to notify the Commissioners of cases where it was considered that there had been a breach of the law with regard to contract work, with a view to the institution of policecourt proceedings.

BLACKBURN BUS LOSS.

A LOSS of 11,267 on the buses and a

profit of £1,066 on the trams are shown in the accounts of Blackburn Corporation for the year ended March 31 last. The deficit on the bus operation is attributed to trade depression and to payment on loans and interest.

IMPENDING SCOTTISH MERGER REPORTED.

IT is reported that negotiations are proceeding between the Paisley and District Omnibus Co. and Messrs. J. and R. Young, of Paisley, for the transference of certain services, at present operated by the former concern, to the latter, although no confirmation of the rumour has officially been given.

The Paisley and District concern's 'services started in February, 1027, and the company operates about 20 vehicles. Messrs. J. and R. Young first commenced their services in May, 1929, and have a fleet of some 50 vehicles.

ORANGE .BROS. INVOLVED IN MERGER.

ACCORDING to a report, Messrs.

Orange Bros., of .Newcastle, have entered into an agreement with a London concern for the merging of the two undertakings. Close secrecy is being maintained in connection with the name of the latter company, and, although Messrs. Orange Bros. have neither confirmed nor denied the statement, we understand it is a fairly large organization, but not a member of a combine.

Messrs. Orange Bros. are stated to be making the final arrangements for an air service from Gateshead to London.

ROTHERHAM'S THREE SYSTEMS SHOW A PROFIT..

THE accounts of the transport depart ment of Rotherham Corporation for the year ended March 31, 1933, show a gross profit of £19,316 on the operation of trolley-buses, £15,424 on the petrol buses and 16,783 on the tramways, the total of 141.523 being transferred to the net revenue account, where interest, income tai and redemption of debt charges reduce the amount to £25,484, which is carried to the appropriation account.

The traffic revenue from the operation of trolley-buses amounted to £60,308 and for petrol buses to £57,646, working expenses amounting to £42,896 and £47,049 respectively.

At the end of the past financial year the corporation had 88 vehicles in service, including 50 Bristols, 22 Ransomes and seven Gays. Of the total fleet of machines now in commission 36 vehicles are trolley-buses. UPMINSTER SERVICES RULE NISI DISCHARGED.

A FEW days ago, a Icing's Beneh

Divisional Court, consisting of the Lord Chief Justice and Justices Avery and Humphreys, discharged, with costs, a rule nisi, obtained by T_Jprninster Services, Ltd., calling upon the Minister of Transport to show cause why certain Orders revoking a licence, granted by the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioners and a backing issued by the Eastern Commissioners, in respect of an AIdgate-Upminster service, should not be quashed.

It was stated that the Minister took into consideration certain alleged irregularities of the predecessor of Upminster Services, Ltd., and this was claimed to be irrelevant and extraneous. It was submitted by the opposition to the rule that the Minister was right in considering whether the same persons who had conducted the service before the formation of Upminster Services, Ltd., were really now running it. ,The company had acted illegally by infringing a licence condition that a minimum fare of .1 s. should be charged, but on behalf of the company it was stated that it had been advised that this condition was ultra vices.

In giving judgment, the Lord Chief Justice expressed the view that the Minister had acted well within his powers. Mr. Justice Avery stated that it must be relevant to consider the previous character of persons who applied for a linence, although they had formed themselves into a company and had sought a licence in the name of that organisation.

NEW TRENT GARAGE OPENED. AT the opening ceremony of the new Nottingham garage of the Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., last Friday afternoon, the chairman of the board of directors, Mr. R. J. Howley, C.B.E., mentioned that the new building had become necessary as a result of the oxpansion of the company's business. The garage was opened by Mr. John H. tirk, J.P., M.Inst.T., chairman of the East Midland Commissioners. In thanking him for so doing, Mr. 0. C. Power, J.P., had some amusing things to say about the proceedings before Commissioners.

Like the old building which, as reported in last week's issue, held only 75' buses, the new one was designed by Mr. Arthur Ashton, F.R.I.B.A., of Leamington, and has a capacity for 134 buses. At each end of the main building there are doors, the one entrance, together with the offices, being in Manvers Street, whilst the other is in Parliament Street. Altogether, the building is most admirably suited to its purpose, and the company's general manager, Mr. G. C. Campbell-Taylor, deserves the congratulations which Mr. Stirk offered him.

THREE BIG COMPANIES COMBINE.

WE regard it as a first step towards more complete co-ordination of the services between London and Yorkshire towns," said Mr. H. F. Atter, in submitting to the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners, at Leeds, on May 29, a joint application by the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd. ; the Yorkshire (W.D.) Electric Tramways, Ltd.; and East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd.

The applicants, said Mr. Atter, sought backing for a licence granted by the Metropolitan Commissioner, and they asked for certain modifications. They wanted through booking from Huddersfield, Harrogate, Halifax, Barnsley, Keighley and Wakefield. In the past there had had to be a certain amount of duplication on the routes served by the four companies on the London-Leeds services, but the service for which they sought a backing would provide a third route, via Grantham, Stamford, Huntingdon and Hoddesden.

For the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., it was explained that the application was really to continue the service formerly operated by Coachways, Ltd., and the Hale Garage Coach Co., Ltd., of London.

The Commissioners reserved their decision.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S WARNING.

DURING the consideration by the North Western Traffic Commissioners, sitting in Manchester, this week, of a. large number of applications to vary excursion and tour licences by including period bookings, the chairman, Mr. W. Chamberlain, stated that if the licence conditions were ignored by the running of more vehicles than were allowed the licences would be cancelled.

Generally, the period-return variations were allowed only on specific dates and to particular points, to enable the operators to cater for the local holiday traffic. Where it could not be shown that an operator had been in the habit of carrying a steady traffic to any particular holiday resort, over a period of years, such centres were struck out of the applications.

SHORT-PERIOD LICENCES.

IN future, no applications to the York shire Traffic Commissioners for shortperiod express-service licences will be considered unless they are made in the proper manner eight weeks before November.

TEES-SIDE BOARD'S LOSS.

THE accounts of the Tees-side Railless Traction Board Show a net deficit of £2,838 on the working during the year ended March 31 last.

ANOTHER TROLLEY-BUS USER.

PORTSMOUTH City Council last

week reaffirmed its decision to operate trolley-buses on the CoshamSouth Parade Pier route. It was stated that the experiment would cost £33.700. MINISTER'S LATEST RULING ON "PROTECTION."

THE

1 questions of " protection " and the . convenience of the travelling public are raised by an appeal of Ennis and Reed, Ltd., against the condition, . attached to a licence granted to the company by the Northern Traffic Commissioners, prohibiting the carriage of Newcastle-Durham passengers.

The question at issue is whether the company should be allowed to carry purely local traffic between Newcastle and Durham, Protection was granted to other operators, who claimed that they had served the route prior to Ennis and Reed, Ltd., providing facilities, and that they were running unremunerative services on other routes.

It appears that, in 1928, Newcastle Corporation granted the company a licence, subject to its "not catering for traffic on the route between Newcastle and Durham," and with this proviso the appellant agreed. In November, 1931, the Northern Commissioners stated that they were prepared to issue a licence, subject to the existing condi tions,

In giving his decision on the appeal, the Minister of Transport states that the appellant appears to suggest that the condition reading "between Newcastle and Durham," in the earlier licence, did not preclude the carriage of a passenger over the whole section of the route from Newcastle to Durham, but merely the conveyance of a person over a lesser portion of the journey.

The Minister is satisfied that the corporation intended to prevent the appellant from competing with other operators for the transport of passengers whose total journey was from Newcastle to Durham, or any intermediate seetion of the Newcastle-Durham route.

Ten local authorities petitioned on behalf of Ennis and Reed, Ltd., but the Minister finds no sufficient grounds for varying the decision of the Commissioners, and he will require the company to pay the costs of the appeal.

It is stated that even if the protected services were proved to be inadequate it might he proper for the Commisaioners to consider increasing their services, rather than removing the restriction placed upon Ennis and Reed, Ltd.

FUTURE OF COACH FARES.

FOLLOWING a discussion on reduc

tions in railway fares at a meeting of Yorkshire Coach Owners, Ltd., in Leeds, it was decided to defer consideration of the future of coach fares until members' applications for excursion and tour licences have been dealt with by the Traffic Commissioners. Then, if it be considered necessary, application will be made for reductions in fares for these services.

ANOTHER SMALL MAN'S SERVICE BOUGHT OUT.

THE transport committee of Manches

ter Corporation has approved the arrangements for the acquisition by the corporation of the bus service worked by Messrs. H. and S. F. Sykes, between Hale Barns and Manchester. Operation of the service is, we understand, to be continued jointly by the corporation and the North Western Road Car Co.. Ltd.

On the next page we report a similar deal by the corporation and the North Western Co. with another small operator in. the Idanchester area. PrIANCHESTER AND NORTH WESTERN CO. 'BUYING: SERVICE.

WE understand that Manchester Cor poration and the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., Stockport, have agreed jointly to purchase the bus service of Messrs. Organ and Wachter, West bidsbury, Manchester.

We are informed by the last-named undertaking that negotiations have yet to be completed, The firm run a service from Styal to Parker Street, Manchester, which was commenced in 1927. At the peak of its prosperity foUr singledeck buses were used on the route, but in March, 1932, the service was reduced, on an appeal, to five journeys per day in each direction and is now operated by two buses.

The arrangement is, of course, subject to the granting of the licences to the corporation and the North Western concern by the Traffic Commissioners.

COMMISSIONERS TO HEAR BIDS FOR PARTY LICENCES.

SOME new and important legal argu ments will be heard when the Southern Traffic Commissioners consider, at their sitting at Ryde from June 13-15, a number of applications for special licences to cover pre-booked work. The Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association will oppose all the applications to test the necessity of such licences.

EXETER BUS RECEIPTS WELL MAINTA 1NED.

THE accounts of Exeter Corporation for the year -ended March 31 last show a surplus of £1,512 on the buses and a loss of £5,640 on the tramways.

The manager states that the year just ended is the first year of the complete bus undertaking, and, as was the case last year' when the change-over from trams to buses took place, no comparison of costs, etc., can be drawn.

The receipts have been well maintained, and at £71,279 show an increase over the combined tram and bus figure of last year, amounting to £7,025. Working expenses amounted to £56,661, which left the gross profit on the undertaking at £14,618.

The cost of petrol per bus-mile was 2.4322d. and the total working expenses 11.041d. The all-in operating costs, including capital charges, amounted to 13.949d. per bus-mile. The increase of 3d. per gallon in the price of petrol in September, 1932, has involved an extra cost to the department in the subsequent months of' £1,785, LATEST "CONSENT" DECISION.

THE Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners have granted consent to Huddersfield Corporation to operate buses on two routes outside the borough. The inquiry was held on May 3.

ALLEGED " TRAFFIC " IN -ROAD SERVICE LICENCES.

WHEN Mr. G. L. Ward, of Barry Island, applied to the South -Wales Traffic Commissioners for the renewal of the licence for his local service, Thomas White and Co., Ltd., Cardiff, applied for sanction to run Mr. Ward's service, the company contending that it had entered into an agreement to pur

chase his vehicles if the licence was renewed.

Mr. Ward said that he himself no* intended to operate the service, and he denied an allegation by the Barry L6eal Omnibus Owners • Association that he was refusing the offer to avail himself of an opportunity of obtaining a better price. The Association opposed Mr. Ward's application on the ground that his " service had been unsatisfactory."

In refusing to renew the licence or to grant it to Thomas White and Co., Ltd., Mr. A. T. James, K.C., chairman of the Commissioners, made severe observations on the alleged practice of certain operators of retaining licences for the purpose of making business deals on the strength of them

OPERATORS SOLVE THEIR OWN 'DIFFICULTIES:

MEMBERS of the Morecambe, Hey

sham and District Coach Owners Association have themselves prepared a code of regulations (approved by the Traffic Commissioners) governing the use of the stands by them. This code has been successfully operated and the watch committee of Morecambe Corporation has not to pursue the question of the formation of regulations.

STOKE CORPORATION ASKED TO BUY BUS SERVICES.

A SHORT time ago Stoke-on-Trent

Council Labour Group passed a resolution requesting Stoke-on-Trent Corporation to consider the desirability of acquiring the bus services in the city. The matter was raised, last week, at a meeting of the council, when the committee's report was approved. The largest operator in Stoke is the Potteries Electric Traction Co., Ltd., which was recently involved in a dispute with the corporation concerning fares. NEW RULES ON DRIVERS' HOURS.

yESTERDAY (June 1) a new Order , noncerning public service vehicle drivers' hours came into force. The Order has been made as the result of representations by operators and employees to the Minister of Transport, who, after referring the matter to the Industrial Court, made an Order to deal with the question.

Where in any period of 24 hours, only one period of duty not exceeding 81 hours is worked, 81 hours may be substituted for the statutory limit of 51 hours of continuous duty. This is contingent upon the driver being allowed intervals for signing on and off, and for looking over the vehicle before it leaves and after it returns to the garage, and for layover totalling not less than 45 minutes, provided that where the continuous period of duty does not exceed eight hours, the intervals need not exceed .40 minutes.

Where in any period of 24 hours, only two periods of duty not exceeding 81 hours in the aggregate are worked, 61 hours may be substituted for the statutory limit of M hours. The same conditions relating to intervals for signing on and off, etc., apply as in the foregoing case, whilst the driver must have at least 12 consecutive hours for rest in the period of 24 hours calculated from the commencement of the first period of driving.

So far as stage carriages are concerned, on one day in any period of seven consecutive days, or on two days when the period includes a Bank Holiday, eight consecutive hours may be substituted for the period of nine hours laid down as the minimum period of rest for a driver. He must, however, have 12 consecutive hours for rest in the period of 24 hours next following any day on which he has had fewer than 10 consecutive hours for rest.

In connection with express and contract carriages, if between any two periods of driving there be an interval of not fewer than four consecutive hours, during which the driver is able to obtain rest and refreshment, eight consecutive hours may be substituted for 10 hours for rest on one day in any period of seven consecutive days, or on two days when the weeks include a ]lank Holiday.

CAREFUL WELSH DRIVERS.

AT the annual dinner of the staff of Messrs Lewis and James (Western Valleys Services Ltd.), Cross Keys, at which Councillor G. Stephens presided, it was stated that over BO per cent. of the bus drivers of the company held the National " Safety First" Association's silver medal for five years' continuous driving without accident. Some of the mon had bars to their awards and all had obtained diplomas.

OILERS FOR SOUTH WALES.

IN our issue dated May 19 we reviewed briefly the progress with the operation of oil-engined buses by some of the South Wales .operators.

We now learn that the South Wales Transport Co., Ltd., Swansea, has been experimenting for some time with an oil-engined vehicle on the Town Hill route, Swansea, and has placed orders for six A.E.C. 40-seater six-wheeled vehicles with fluid transmission and pre-selective gearboxes. These new vehicles will be operated on the Town Hill service, on which the working conditions are exceptionally severe. MINISTER INSISTS ON INTERAVAILABLE TICKETS.

THE question of the issuei■of inter available tickets was raised in appeals by Newcastle Corporation against the decision of the Northern Traffic Commissioners requiring that tickets issued on municipal vehicles, on the Newcastle-Ryton route, should be available on the hoses of Messrs. Robson Eros. The Minister of Transport has now announced bis decision in the matter.

The six miles of route between Newcastle and Ryton Church is common to a number of services operated by Newcastle Corporation, United Automobile Services. Ltd., and Messrs. Robson Eros. The corporation did not appeal against the conditions relating to interavailability on the U.A.S. vehicles.

The corporation contended that the imposition of this condition was ultra vires, but the Minister pointed out that it was intended to be in the public interest. The local authority appeared to attach great weight to the difficulties that might arise in respect of possible liability for accident to passengers. • The Minister states that he is advised that, ex ahundanti cautela, the corporation might give notice to passengers that holders of Robson's tickets would, if injured while travelling on Newcastle Corporation's vehicles, have no claim upon the municipality. He understands that such a notice would not constitute a breach of the provisions of Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act.

The Minister considers that Messrs. Robson would be placed at an unfair disadvantage if inter-availability of tickets were not allowed, and therefore dismisses the appeal with costs.


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