BUS RESULTS AT NEWCASTLE.
Page 65
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Some Statistical Details of the Past Year's Working of Municipal Buses.
general manager (Mr. T. P.
Easton) of the transport and electricity undertaking of Newcastle Corporation has just issued his report for the year ended March 31st last, and although it shows that the municipal motorbus services were operated at a net loss of 16,421, this figure is 11,325 less than the extent of the loss recorded in the previous year.
The actual income from the operation of buses was 1108,170, whilst working expenses totalled £101,142. The gross profit was thus £7,027, the comparable figure for last year being 15,874, hut as interest, redemption and other charges had to be met to the extent of 113,448, a fairly substantial net loss was shown.
At the end of the period covered by the report the corporation had 72 buses in service, consisting of A.E.C., Daimler, Dennis and Guy makes, but since then additions have been made to the fleet. Capital expenditure on baser, as at March 31st last, amounted to £95,947, loans. repaid and sinking 'fund charges amounting to £32.645, so that the debt outstanding at that_ time was £63,302. The corporation is operating 13 bus services, five of them being city routeg, and during the past year four new services were established. During the year 11,135,707 passengers were carried on the buses, which ran a total mileage of 2,968,109, these figures comparing with 9,156,303 and 2,750,226 for the previous year. • An analysis of the revenue account shows that expenditure was incurred under the following main headings :— Traffic expenses, 146,236; motor spirit, £24,941; maintenance' add 'repairs, £21,207; • licences, •14,106; general expanses, £3.727.. The average expenditure per' bus-mile wag equivalent to 8.178d. whilst income on the same basis was 4.676d. During ,the past year 119,783 was spent upon motorbuses, and since the issue of the report the corporation ha s Sanctionedan outlay of a further 150,000 for, new publictransport vehicles'.
ince the end of March last the, bus section has shown increasing -weekly profits, and it is expected that the next report will reveal a greatly improved state-'of affairs so far as buses are concerned, especially when it is borne in mind that an agreement has been entered into 'with the London and North Eastern Railway Co., whilst coordinated services with certain private opeintors are being maintained to aid
the travelling public. . _