State Control for Calcutta Buses
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ALL bus services in Calcutta will be nationalized by 1958-59 under a five-year plan approved by the West Bengal Cabinet.
There are at present 552 privately owned buses operating in Calcutta and its suburbs. The Government estimate that the total seating capacity represented by this number could be equalled by 350 vehicles of current design.
The cost of buying new buses, together with the construction of two new depots and the extension of the existing depot in the Lake area, is estimated at more than Rs. 20m., bringing the total investment in the State transport services to approximately Rs. I40ni. NATIONALIZATION IN PUNJAB 1-1 A PLAN for a corporation to run nationalized transport in the Punjab has been discussed between private operators and the State Government. It was agreed that private interests and the Government should
The Eagle semi-trailer of this Bedford-Scanutz211 articulated Outfit carries 10 tons of grain. II is fitted with Eagle twinrant underslung tipping gear. hold 40 per cent. of the shares in the
proposed corporation, the remainder being owned by the railways. This ratio would be maintained even if the share capital of Rs. 30m. was raised in the future.
• DELHI WANTS MORE BUSES
THE aim of Delhi Transport Service to build up its bus fleet to 400 under the first five-year plan has been
• achieved a year ahead of schedule. It is now believed that a further 100 vehicles are needed to cope with Delhi's increasing transport requirements, and the Indian Government will probably be asked to sanction the loan of more money for this purpose.
ROAD OFFENDERS IDENTIFIED
GODDS-VEHICLE drivers who use their spotlights instead of headlights, to the embarrassment of oncoming traffic, were one of five groups of "offenders" against road safety mentioned by the Chief Constable of Cumberland and Westmorland, Mr. J. S. H. Gaskain, when he presented safe-driving awards to drivers of Cumberland Motor Services, Ltd., at Wh iteha ven last week.
Among other offending groups were drivers who parked their vehicles on main roads, and operators of vehicles which, in consequence of poor maintenance, emitted smoke.
Mr. H. H. Merchant, a director and B4 general manager of C.M.S., said the ratio of accidents to passengers— including those for which the company was not responsible—was 1 in 42,000.
During 1953, 265 drivers and 256 conductors qualified for accident-free awards.
TRAILERS DANGEROUS" TO CYCLISTS
A FTER it had been submitted that rt vehicles drawing trailers were dangerous to Hull's cyclists, the 1-lull and East Riding Accident Prevention Federation agreed, last week, to refer to the Road Research Laboratory a suggestion that a specially coloured wing should be fitted when a vehicle was drawing a trailer.
It was stated that there had already been three fatal accidents and three persons injured by trailers overtaking cyclists in Hull.
Semi-trailer Hauls Gram in Bulk
THE delivery of grain in bulk and the carriage of bagged grain on the return journey, are the uses for which a 10-ton semi-trailer end-tipper was recently built by the Eagle Engineering Co., Ltd., Warwick. The trailer is drawn by a Bedford-Scatrunell SA tractor and is operated by John Aizlewood, Ltd., Crown Flour Mills, Sheffield, on runs between Sheffield and the Lancashire ports,
The discharge hopper at the rear is covered with a metal grille so that hand trucks can he wheeled into the body for loading sacks. The rate of discharge when the grain is transported in bulk is controlled by an adjustable door.
The trailer chassis is an electrically welded structure with main members of the tapered-girder type to provide localized resistance to the tipping stresses. The body is 21 ft. 6 in. long and 7 ft. wide, and has a depth of 4 ft. to prevent spillage. Twelve detachable bows are fitted to provide a framework for a canvas cover, which is secured to 40 rope hooks.
The tipping gear is of the Eagle twin-ram underslung type, and transverse stresses are taken by a hinged stabilizer of channel section. The angle of tip is 455,
Self-sealing couplings are used between the flexible connecting pines and the hydraulic system of the tractor. The twin detachable rear wheels of the trailer are fitted with 9.00-in. by 20-in. tyres. The outfit was supplied to the operator by Bentley "Bros. (Sheffield), Ltd., Saville Street, Sheffield.
CRUSH-LOAD TROLLEY BUSES ARGE CAPACITY single deck trolleybuses may be operated in Colombo, Ceylon, if permission is obtained frpm the Commissioner of
Motor Traffic and the police. The proposed new buses would be 35 ft. 6 in, long and 8 ft. 6 in. wide, and would have provision for 46 seated and 32 standing passengers.
The double-deck trolleybuses at present operated by Colombo Municipal Council have a total capacity of 56 passengers.
Government Review of Abnormal Loads
" "
THE whole procedure for carrying
I heavy loads by road is now under review and I am proposing to bring representatives of industry into 4..onsultation," said Mr. A. T. LennoxBoyd, Minister of Transport, in the House of Commons, last week.
He said that such traffic was normally of high national importance. He was always ready to remind manufacturers of the availability of sea transport, but he could not direct them to use it.
BETTER HAULAGE SERVICE
FA1LURE by some members of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce to obtain road transport service up to the standard applicable before the disposal of British Road Services' vehicles began may, it is hoped, be redressed by the granting of some additional permits to cover longer journeys and by hiring vehicles.
Making this statement at a meeting of the Chamber on Monday, Mr. C. E. Jordan, chairman of the transport committee, said that the rate of disposal had been slower than expected by his committee.
Some of the operators who had acquired vehicles, he said, were concentrating on the larger tonnages for the main traffic centres, rather than on smaller lots for delivery to various iestinatioris. Such difficulties were nevitable during the transition stage, ind had been envisaged when the fransport Act, 1953, was passed.
NO ELIMINATING CONTEST
THE eliminating contest on September 5 for the "Lorry Driver of the (ear" competition to be held at Covenry on September 19 and October 9, as been abandoned. The entry list
B.E.T. Pay
^WRING the past financial year the B.E.T. group paid £6m. in fuel ix and vehicle licence duty, and aim.
other taxation, apart from local ites.
Mr. H. C. Drayton, chairman of the ritish Electric Traction Co., Ltd., gave tese figures at the annual meeting last vek. He added that despite the great icreases in cost, provincial bus fares ere now, on an average, only about ) per cent, above those prevailing fore the war.
Mr. Drayton hoped the Government ould soon require the British Transirt Commission to divest themselves • their controlling interest in road issenger transport. He said that Jamaica Omnibuses, d., were doing well and he acknowiged the co-operation received from a Jamaican Government. He believed it there was room for expansion in
services being operated by the 3up of bus companies in Central and st Africa, in which B.E.T. had taken
£9-1-m. Tax
will be closed as soon as 200 vehicles have been entered, including those which will come from the Portsmouth contest on September 4.
Out of 139 vehicles entered by last week, 22 were Austins, 20 MorrisCommercials, 18 Commers, 15 Bedfords, 10 Atkinsons and nine. Leylands.
BULK LORRIES FOR DISTRIBUTORS' FLEET
THE fleet of the Herefordshire Delivery Service has been augmented by three 8-tonners operating under art A licence for the bulk collection of goods from various manufacturers for final distribution from Holmer, Hereford.
Next Monday, the style of the business, which was described in The Commercial Motor on July 16, will be changed to Phillips 'Road Services, and all activities will be transferred to a new warehouse on the Holmer industrial development site. The premises cover 11,000 sq. ft. and afford modern facilities for the distribution of groceries and other consumer goods.
AGRICULTURAL TRAFFIC RATES -THE following maximum rates per
I ton for the transport of agri,cultural goods have been suggested by the Road Haulage Association to the National Association of Corn and Agricultural Merchants:— an interest of about 40 per cent. He thought that they could be made even more profitable than they were today.
Speaking of staff, Mr. Drayton said that loyalty was worth more than money. It played a prominent part in producing the profits of B.E.T.
Unfortunately, because of the high level of taxation, there was little or nothing that could be offered to a bus company manager in the provinces to attract him to join the B.E.T. executive in London. He would have a fairly large salary in his present position, and would probably live within 10 minutes of his work and recreation.
To come to London he would have to make a new home and pay two or three times more rent than at present. All his expenses would be much higher, and there was practically nothing that B.E.T. could offer in the way of salary that meant any financial reward.
"That is a serious problem, and is one with which all industries are faced," Mr. Drayton commented.
"House in Order" or Out of Business
rAA WARNING that if he wanted to continue in business he should "put his house in order" was given to Mr. John Vessey, a Hibaldstow coach operator, by the East Midland Licensing Authority when he applied for the renewal of his licence.
The Authority asked the applicant what steps it was proposed to take to improve fleet maintenance. Between November, 1951, and June, 1954, it had been necessary to suspend vehicles on 10 occasions. It was also alleged that Mr. Vessey ran a service outside the terms of his licence.
Applicant wished to modify the timings of certain services, but objections were made by the Lincolnshire Road Car Co., Ltd. There was no co-ordination between Mr. Vessey and the company on shared routes, it was stated.
The Authority said that he had come from Nottingham to Scunthorpe for-the hearing, a colleague from Skegness and the shorthand writer from. London, yet the applicant had brought no evidence to support his case. Mr. Vessey said he would withdraw his application and apply for a continuation of his licence in its existing terms.
The court adjourned and the Authority met the applicant and his solicitor in the retiring room for a discussion.
1955 Lo.T. CONGRESS
ARRANARRANGEMENTS are being made GEMENTS the 1955 congress of the Institute of Transport, which will be held at Southport from June 7-10.
On October II, 1954, Sir Gilmour Jenkins will deliver his presidential address, and on December 13, Mr. G. W. Quick Smith will present the Henry Spurner memorial lecture.
Other fixtures are: November 10, anniversary luncheon; February 1, 1955, informal luncheon; March 18, annual dinner; April 26, informal luncheon. The luncheons will be held at the Connaught Rooms, Great Queen Street, London, W.C.2, and the annual dinner at the Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London, W.1.
LIST R3 FINAL RESULTS
FINAL results of list R3 of transport units are as follows: Units without premises, highest tender accepted for 56 units (165 vehicles), all tenders rejected for 36 units (152 vehicles) and no bids received for 16 units (71 vehicles). Altogether, 108 units without premises (388 vehicles) were offered.
Units with premises, highest tender accepted for 6 units (70 vehicles), all tenders rejected for 10 units (152 vehicles) and no bids received for 19 units (356 vehicles) out of a total of 35 units (578 vehicles).
No bids were made for 24 per cent. of the units and 44 per cent, of the vehicles. Most of the units in list R3 were models in list 4_