PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
AN IMPORTANT BUS COMPANY'S FIRST REPORT.
The Growth of the Activities of the Glasgow General Omnibus and Motor Services, Ltd., Which Runs a Big Fleet of R.:ses.
IN our issue for last week we published brief details of the trading of the Glasgow General Omnibus and Motor Services, Ltd., for the period from July 1st, 1926, to September 30th, 1927. The first annual general meeting of the company was held just before the Christmas holiday, when some interesting information was revealed by the chairman of directors. The total income in the period mentioned amounted to 125,034, from which certain items had to be deducted, the gross profit being 119,572. The directors have decided to write off 112,000 to depreciation reserve account, so that the net profit• amounts to £7,572, subject to income tax, and this sum is to be carried forward.
The chairman mentioned that depreciation had been calculated at the rate of 20 per cent. per annum on the capital value of the rolling stock for the period from the date of delivery of each vehicle until September 30th last. He alluded to th4 adverse conditions with which the company was faced at the outset of its formation, and expressed the view that, when the difficulties were properly considered, the results must be deemed extremely satisfactory.
It will he remembered by our readers that the company was inaugurated during the coal stoppage of 1926, and the industrial trouble resulted in considerable delay in the execution of the contract which was placed for 70 buses. Until January of last year only 30 buses were in service, and delivery of the original order was not completed until May last, so that the period of operation of the vehicles originally purchased was only about four months. Between June and September a further 30 buses Were delivered, SO that at the end of the period covered by the report the company's fleet totalled 100 buses. The results of the operation of these vehicles proved so gratifying that the company decided upon the purchase of an additional 50 buses, and these are now being delivered Fit the rate of two or three per week. But this is not all, for in pursuance of the policy of the directors an order for a further 100 chassis has been placed, in order that vehicles may be at the command of the company as and when required.
The operations of the Glasgow General Omnibus and Motor Services, Ltd., have mostly centred around the Hamilton district, and it is safe to say, that its services are widely known and appreciated throughout the whole of Lanarkshire. The total mileage of routes on which the company's buses run is about 94, and during the period with which the first report deals the total traffic miles numbered 3,363,344, whilst 9,407,323 passengers were , carried. These figures merely indicate the service provided and the popularity of the buses, but by reason of the late B36 additions made to the fleet are not a true index of the extent of present-day operations. As a matter of fact, the number of passengers carried is increasing week by week, until it now numbers 350,000 per week, 'and with more vehicles coming into service it is reasonable to anticipate a further increase.
Inthe course of his remarks the chairman referred to the competition which had been encountered, but made it clear that the establishment of regular and efficient services by the company had created a good impression in the public mind.
The company's progress in Glasgow has been restricted to some extent by local by-laws, which have been framed in the interests of traffic control, and these have prevented it from carrying out the original intention to erect a bus station on a site at the junction of Waterloo Street and Wellington Street. The Lanark County Council has also instituted by-laws for the control of bus traffic, but no difficulties are anticipated in this connection. . As a matter of fact, the chairman believes that such regulations will ultimately benefit the
1/1-R. F. GORDON TUCKER, ..131_0.B.E., a Ministry of Transport Cemmissioner, inquired at niece, on December 21st, into the refusal of the Risen (Mon.) Urban District Council to grant licences to Western Services, Ltd., to ply for hire in the Risca area with eight buses. Both the Rises Council and Western Services, Ltd., were represented by counsel, and, in addition, the Great Western Railway Co. and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway CO. were represented.
Mr. Kirkhouse Jenkins, counsel for the appellants, said that the company now ran multiple services and one of these was the Tredegar-Newport service, which, except for that part of the route within the area of the Risen Urban District Council, i.e., from Watnville to Royal Oak, was sanctioned by all councils without restrictive conditions being imposed. In the Risca area, however, the company's buses were not allowed to pick up or set down passengers, except those having season tickets, and the application being considered was for sanction to pick up and set dawn ordinary fare-paying passengers in this area. Messrs. Lewis and James, bus owners, had, it appeared, an agreement with the Risen Council under which they were given a monopoly of rights for plying for hire with buses in the Risen area and the Western Ser
company in that they will have the effect of eliminating a certain dem of bus which, he says, was bringing discredit on motorbuses in general and raising doubts In the mind of the travelling public as to the safety and reliability of this type of conveyance. Moreover, the restrictions of the number of vehicles permitted to operate on Certain routes will provide a guarantee, to some extent, against future competition.
The company haa made additions to in engineering shops at Hamilton, and has acquired a garage at Stonehouse, as well as ground at Newmains upon which a garage has been erected, whilst a garage is being rented at Shotts. The company's success is not mere chance, for it has laid itself out to -meet the Public's need in a most satisfactory and efficient way. The engineering shops, for instance, have been planned so that the buses can be overhauled periodically and minor repairs expeditiously carried out, whilst plant has been installed so that the majority of the vehicles can be washed, cleaned and disinfected every night.
Efforts ere made to encourage the drivers to exercise the utmost care and discretion in the performance of their duties, and to this end a " no-aceident " bonus scheme has just been introduced, the bonus being payable to each driver who ha a completed three months' driving free from accident.
vices, Ltd., was, in effect, asking to be put on equal terms in this connection with Messrs. Lewis and James.
Mr. T. R. Jenkins, secretary and managing director of Western Services, Ltd., giving evidence, said that the company plied for hire with buses in the areas of 17 local authorities and had a longer mileage to traverse than any other Monmouthshire bus company. He did not agree with a suggestion that the Rista roads were not ideal for bus traffic. An inquiry relating to a similar application had been held in 1925 at Risca, the result, on that eeeaslim, being that the council's decision as to the rideqincy of Messrs. Lewis and James's services to meet local needs was upheld. There had since been an increase in demand and the service had been increased by 100 per cent., thus showing that there was justification for the application. It was necessary now that the appeal be allowed and licences granted.
Evidence in support of the application was given by the Rev. J. Holmes, a season-ticket holder on the system. He said that he had to superintend 25 churches in Monmouthshire and, in the course of his duties, travelled a good deal by bus. On one occasion he took his wife on one of the 'buses of Western Services, Ltd., running in the, Risen area. The conductor was willing to receive him as a season-ticket holder, but requested his wife to get off. Witness caused some laughter when he said that he had to argue with the conductor on the matter until the bus was out of the Risca area.
An ex-member of the Risen Urban District Council and others also gave evidence in support of the application. Mr. St. George Micklethwaite, K.C., for the Risca Urban District Council, said the council was quite satisfied that loeal needs were met by the buses of Messrs. Lewis and James which are in use in the area. It was said to be far better for the council to license one comprehensive service in the area than to have two or more services, with a lesser number of buses allocated to each, In opposition.
Mr. S. M. Roberts, a member of the Risca Council, said that Messrs. Lewis and James's service was adequate and complied with all the regulations as regards the safety of the public and the types of vehicle which they have in use. Under cross-examination, it was said that under the agreement between the Risen Urban District Council and Messrs. Lewis and James, the council received an annual rental from the company. In .1924 and 1925 the amount was £100 per annum, in 1926, 1927 and 1928 the sum was fixed at 1125 per annum, for the ensuing three years £200 ,per annum and £300 per annum for the remainder of the term of the agreement. Mr. Trevor Roberts, representing the Great Western Railway Co., urged that licences for additional buses should not be sanctioned. There were already 58 buses per day plying between Risen and Newport and 28 trains were run daily between these places. If additional licences were granted it would accentuate the competition to which the railways were subjected. The decision of the Ministry will be announced in due course.
to drop and their operation is controlled by Rawlings' patent balanced fittings. The subject of interior lighting has received proper consideration and a number of large lamps is provided. Detail fittings, which, although small in themselves, find favour with passengers, include match strikers, ash trays and grab handles to each seat. Bevel-edged mirrors are fitted in the front bulkhead.
The exterior appearance of the vehicle is very attractive, to which domed wings, aluminium-covered running boards and patent leathercloth valances contribute. The bus has recently been delivered to Smith's Safety Services, and runs on pneumatic tyres, twins being fitted On the rear wheels ; the tyres are of 38-in. by 8f-in. dimensions all round.
The Model 423 Associated Daimler chassis to which the body is fitted is specially designed for passenger work.. It incorporates in its design a sixcylindered sleeve-valve engine, having a bore of 81.5 mm. and a stroke of 114 mm., and develops 80-h.p. at 1,000 r.p.m. and 70 h.p. at 3,000 r.p.m. The power is conveyed through a single-plate clutch to a four-speed-and reverse gearbox, which is suspended at three points in the frame. The final drive is by worm gearing. Fair-wheel brakes are provided, these being operated through a Dewandre servo mechanism, whilst the transmission