PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
DARLINGTON'S TROLLEY-BUS PLANS.
The Authorities Proceeding Ahead with Their Plans for the Substitution of Tramcars. The Value of Raifloss Vehicles for Extending Existing Routes.
NOW TEAT the necessary Parliamentary sanction has been secured by the Darlington Corporation for the substitution of trolley-buses for tramcars, the authority is taking steps to carry out the conversion from one system to the other with a minimum of delay. The complete scheme for operating trolley-buses in the borough is divided into two portions, the first of which embraces the changing over to railless traction of all tram routes in the town and the extension of a number of these into districts which have developed to such an extent— since tramways were laid down twentyodd years ago—as to warrant the provision of passenger transport facilities, and the second, the opening up of new sections which are now deemed necessary.
At present Clough, Smith and Co., Ltd., who are taking in hand the work oi adapting the overhead equipment, and providing extensions beyond the present termini; are busily engaged in inspecting existing equipment, and work will, it is stated, be commenced in the near future. It is expected that the whole of the first part of he programme of conversion will be completed by the end of the year.
In order to provide an adequate service over the existing routes and the extensions which are to be carried out this year, the corporation has placed an order for the conktruction of 20 railless cars with Straker, Clough and Co., Ltd. These will be built to accommodate 36 passengers and will, be of the central-entrance type, a large doorway about 36 ins, wide being Used in order• to save time in taking up and setting down passengers. The bodies are being -built by Messrs. Rowe, of Leeds, and each will be divided into two compartments, the object being to reserve the
trolley-bus system should, at the outset, cover some six miles of route.
Quite one of the most interesting extensions to be effected is that to Haughton-le-Skerne, a village about two miles distant and practically one mile away from the present Barton. Street tram terminus. The corporation has been under an obligation to provide a service for that township for the Past ...twenty years. Another prolongation will be that of the Cockerton route, which is to be extended by 1,000 yards in order to provide transport facilities in the important industrial and residential district which has of late years sprung up in the Faverdale district, consequent upon the erection of a wagon works by the Landon and NorthEastern Railway Co., Ltd., which ranks as one of the largest in the world. At the other end of the town, to the east, about 250 yards is to be added to the Yarm Road service, so as to include a new garden suburb laid out in the past four years.
So soon as these developments have been effected, attention will be turned to the question of new routes. Future developments include the provision of a section from the centre of the town via Brinkburn Road, providing an alternative route to Cockerton and Faverdale; a new service to the Victoria Road, Clifton Road and Geneva Road districts an extension of the Harrowgate Hill service, and a route to South Park, via Grange Road, whilst cross:. routes joining up outlying termini are also under consideration. The full scheme, when completed, will more than double the length of routes in the town.