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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
THE LATEST NEWS OF IMPORTANT EVENTS
MORE APPOINTMENTS OF L.P.T.B. OFFICIALS.
\\7.E are now able to supplement the "If list of officials of the London Passenger Transport Board, published in our issue dated .July 7.
Mr. P. L. Duncan is the publicity manager. Officers of the central 'bus department are as follow :—Messrs. II. S. F. Lansdown (assistant operating manager), J. B. Mackinnon (schedules superintendent), G. P. Barnett (staff superintendent), P. A. Alexander, G. P. S. Clark, 3. T. Moran (divisional superintendents), M. J. H. Bruce (production engineer), W. Blair (superintendent of coach factories), E. C. Ottoway (technical officer), 3. H. Williams (superintendent of rolling stock), J. Symes, C. S. Brown, H. Vernon Hunt (divisional engineers).
In the department dealing with country bus services and coaches are the following :—Messrs. C. B. Gilbert (general superintendent), W. A. C. Snook (engineer), C. E. Ayres (operating superintendent). The co-ordination and development superintendent is Mr. 3. E. Cowderoy, the passenger agent being Mr. J. H. Rutland.
PRE-BOOKED PARTIES: YORKSHIRE APPEALS HEARD.
ON Friday and Saturday last, Sir Henry Wynne heard appeals by the eight bus companies mentioned in our issue dated July 21, and the London, Midland and Scottish and London and North Eastern Railway Companies, against the excursion and tour licence modifications granted by the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners to members of the Yorkshire Motor Coach Owners, Ltd., and against new standard conditions.
The case of Messrs. S. and H. Croft, of Yeadon, was selected for appeal. The opposition centred around the setting up of a special licence schedule for pre
booked unadvertised parties. It was B38 submitted for the bus companies that, in connection with the three-mile radius in which an operator may pick up a party, business would be taken from the stage-carriage services.
The railway companies maintained that contract work needed some control and that, in the main, the scheme, with certain new suggestions that they would make, would provide a system of regulation. For the Commercial Motor Users Association, it was held that there should be no limit as regards the radius of picking up.
The respondents agreed, in principle, with the submissions of the railway companies and held that the control of contract work was the only way of protecting the small man against the activities of large companies, L.P.T.B. FIRST APPLICATIONS.
ON Monday last, the London Passen ger Transport Board made its first applications to the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner for licences. The Aldershot and District Traction Co., Ltd., and the Eastern National Omnibus Co., Ltd., also made applications in conjunction with the Board, as a result of the operation of the London Passenger Transport Act, BRIGHTON POLLS AGAINST MERGER.
THE electors of Brighton have again decided against the proposed merger of the municipal tramways with the undertaking of Thomas Tilling, Ltd. A poll was held last Friday, and 4,323 persons voted against the scheme and 3,113 in favour of it.
The inquiry into the scheme was reported in our issue for last week, and the Minister of Transport will take into consideration the result of the poll when reviewing the evidence obtained at the inquiry. The result will be published in this paper in due course.
SETBACK TO MOVEMENT FOR FARES AGREEMENT.
THE
progress of the movement for expediting matters relating to fares has received something of a setback as a result of the refusal of the Eastern Traffic Commissioners, presided over by Sir Haviland Hiley, to approve the Central Fares Committee, although it has the support of the Metropolitan and South-Eastern Commissioners.
At a sitting at Cambridge, last week, Sir Haviland Hiley remarked that resolutions passed by members attending meetings of regional committees or subcommittees do not, contrary to an impression that appears to prevail, become operative by the submission of them to the Commissioners with a covering letter from the convener or secretary. The Commissioners could take DO action upon resolutions passed by such committees.
Applications for road-service licences or variations, whether made after discussion amongst the operators concerned upon regional or other committees, or otherwise, should, said the chairman, be made by individual operators, in accordance with the procedure defined in the regulations. Agreements by committees cannot, in any circumstance, permit of the Commissioners relaxing the requirements imposed upon them by statute, regarding the hearing of evidence, etc., concludes Sir Haviland.
This attitude has caused considerable disappointment amongst operators, who feel that they should have been given earlier some intimation of the Commissioner's views on the subject.
FUTURE OF YARMOUTH TRAMS.
THE transport committee of Yar
mouth Corporation has had under consideration a report by the general manager with regard to the' future of the tramways in the borough, and has now appointed a sub-committee.
LIVERPOOL'S LOSSES CAUSE CONCERN.
IN our issue dated April 14, we gave early details of the working for the past year of the municipal passengertransport system of Liverpool, and the report of the acting general manager, now issued, for the 12 months ended March 31, 1933, gives amplified particulars of the results obtained.
During this period the total revenue on the buses amounted to £177,211, whilst operating costs totalled £206,824, so that the deficit was £29,507. As interest accounted for £15,772 and sinking fund and repayment of loans for £40,255, the total deficit was £85,535.
These figures prove that the department's bus services continued to cause a heavy financial loss. A number of alterations in routes and services has been decided upon which will reduce competition between the municipal buses and trains. In considering the past year's results, sight must not be lost of the fact that the average cost of petrol was increased 2id. per gallon (nearly 25 per cent.), whilst the capital charges per mile run have considerably increased owing to the reduction in services and consequent decreased mileage.
The whole arrangements in connection with the operation of buses, including maintenance and repair, are being investigated with a view to reducing operating costs.
During the past year the buses covered an aggregate mileage of 3,298,058 and carried 23,792,479 passengers, the comparable returns for the previous year being 4,4118,210 and 29,030,618, respectively.
OXFORD CO. TO TAKE PART OF AYLESBURY CONCERN.
AS forecast exclusively in The Com mercial Motor, a fortnight ago, City of Oxford Motor Services, Ltd., has applied for licences to take over a portion of the Aylesbury Omnibus Co.'s services. Four routes are involved-namely, Aylesbury to Licester, Marsh and (by two routes) to Thame.
The Aylesbury Omnibus Co., Ltd., which is under Eastern National management, is applying, with the London Passenger Transport Board, for permission to divide the AylesburyChesham service, so that the LP.T.B. section will be Chesham-Great Missenden, and the Aylesbury Co.'s section, Great MissendemAylesbury.
209 HILLMAN COACH WORKERS STRIKE.
STRIKE action was taken by about 200 employees of Edward Hillman's Saloon Coaches, Ltd., Rotnford, last Saturday, as a result, it is stated, of certain dismissals. At the peak, some 100 coaches were involved, these operat ing on four suburban routes. The strike was unofficial, and the company decided not to re-engage those men who ceased work, unemployed drivers and conductors taking their places.
SPECIAL NEW pusEs FOR 1-in.7 ROUTE.
DELIVERY is to be made, in a few days, .by the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., of five specially built Renown six-wheeled oil-engined 40-seater buses for the South Wales Transport Co., Ltd., Swansea, for service on the notorious Town Hill route. This route is
one of the stiffest in Wales and has an average gradient of 1 in 7, with stretches of 1 in 4 and 1 in 5, having always necessitated the use of special vehicles.
A year's experimental work on both oil and petrol engines and with preselective and orthodox gearboxes was engaged in before the order for these buses was given. It has been concluded that the oil-engined vehicle, with a preselective gearbox is best for the work, COUNCILS ASK MINISTER TO REVISE APPEAL DECISION.
ALTHOUGH the Minister of Trans port gave his decision, some time ago, on the appeal of Ennis and Reed, Ltd., Crook, upholding the Northern Traffic Commissioners' decision to preclude the company from picking up and setting down passengers at points between Newcastle and Durham, the matter is not concluded, so far as the local authorities are concerned.
A meeting was held, last week, of seven municipalities representing a population of 219,000 persons, when it was decided to ask the Minister to reconsider his decision. If a favourable reply be not received, another meeting will be held.
Incidentally, two days previously, the company answered, at Durham City Police Court, 27 cases of unauthorized operation, and the summonses were dismissed with no order regarding costs.
COMPENSATION FOR LORD ASHFIELD.
BY way of compensation for his ser vices as chairman of the Underground Electric Railways Co., Ltd., Lord Ashfield, chairman of the London Passenger Transport Board, is to be paid £25,000. With this amount added to sums from other sources, Lord Ashfield will receive a total of £47,893.
NEW TERMS FOR S.NLT. WORKERS.
A DELEGATE conference of the
Transport and General Workers Union considered, at a meeting in Glasgow, this week, the proposed new conditions for employees of the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd.
The terms include a maximum sixday week of 48 hours, with One day of rest in seven for all regular employees, and a 34-hour minimum week for spare drivers and conductors. It is also proposed that uniforms should be supplied free of charge. The company's directors request that the demand for increased wages should be withdrawn for this year.
The proposals were accepted and over 5,000 workers will be affected. M.H.C.S.A. HELPS REGIONAL FARES COMMITTEES.
AS forecast in last week's issue, the
Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association held a meeting, last Monday, in London, with the object of preparing data that will assist the Regional Fares Committees when they meet at the end of August, and to provide small operators with the opporttunity of informally airing their views.
It was generally agreed that revisions of the existing fares scales were necessary, and that the summer fares should operate from the first .!Saturday in July until the last Saturday in August. A revised schedule was prepared representing practically a 10 per cent. reduction all round. The meeting Was attended by about 50 operators.
LEIGH WATCHING ALTERNATIVE-FUEL EXPERIMENTS.
LEIGH Corporation, which runs a
fleet of 31 buses, mainly Leylands, made a gross profit of £10,398 from the operation of these vehicles during the year ended March 31, 1933. The net profit, after setting aside £4,457 for depreciation and renewals, was £1,693. The total_ revenue amounted to £45,619 and operating expenses to £35:280, these figures on a per-bus-mile basis being 11.35d, and 8.774. respectively.
During the year the vehicles carried 5,300,475 passengers on local services and 670,867 on co-ordinates) services, the mileage run on local services being 675,425, on co-ordinated services 289,253 and on private hire 1,040. The total route mileage served is 178.41, and there are 12 local and 11 co-ordinated services.
In his annual report, Mr. J. Atherton, A.M.Inst.T., says that during the year the efforts to find an alternative to the petrol engine were closely watched, but he expresses the view that the experiments conducted have been made chiefly from the point of view of avoiding excessive taxation.. He believes that, except for transitory periods, all types of vehicle will be equivalently taxed, and industry wilt only benefit when a new fuel is produced from coal or an engine is constructed which can be driven by some by-product of coal.
MORE REVENUE FOR NOTTINGHAM.
• THIE accounts of Nottingham Corpora
tion's transport department for the year ended March 31 last show that the total receipts amounted to £568,452, representing an increase of 12,590 on the previous year's result, with working costs standing at £471,514, an increase of £6,055. The repairs and maintenance charges were £15,057 lower than in 1931-32, the actual figure being £70,999.
Sectioning, the receipts per vehiclemile were as follow, the working eaSts being given in parentheses :—Motorbuses, 12.37d. (10.23d.) trolley-buses, 15.84d. (12.17d.) ; trams, 14.83d.
(12.861). Covering 4,490.035 miles, the motorbuses carried 28,723,411 passengers, comparable statistics in respect of the trolley-buses being 1,810,111 and 22,969,868. The trams travelled 3,513,314 miles, carrying 39,661,264
persons. In March last the fleet numbered 175, consisting of vehicles of A.E.C., Dennis, 1Vlandslay, Rarisorans, Karrier, Railiess and English Electric makes.
NEW IDEA IN ROAD-RAIL INTER-AVAILABILITY.
A. NEW' class of inter-available ticket,
which, in certain circumstances, would meet with the approval of the East Midland Traffic Commissioners, formed the subject of an application to those Commissioners, last week. The Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., and the Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., sought sanction to issue tickets that would enable longdistance passengers to Quorn, Rothley or Birstall to travel by bus from Leicester if a suitable local railway connection were not available.
Mr. J. H. Stirk, the chairman, remarked that the application, which was made in conjunction with the London and North Eastern Railway Co., was quite different from one in respect of road-rail tickets for half-day excursions. Although the ease was adjourned, Mr. Stirk thought the idea to be excellent if it could be made applicable to bus companies other than those mentioned.
M.H.C.S.A. INCREASING STRENGTH.
THE Portsmouth and District Coach
Owners Association and the Ayrshire Coach Owners Association are now affiliated to the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association. We are informed that it is hoped that negotiations now proceeding between the M.H.C.S.A. and Yorkshire Motor Coach Owners, Ltd., for the affiliation of the,latterwill soon be completed.
Incidentally, the M.H.C.S.A. is bolding its annual general meeting at the Olympia, London, on November 6, a paper being presented on the same day. The annual dinner will take place at the Connaught Rooms, London, on • November 10.
STATION CHARGE DISPUTED.
A DISPUTE between Ilkeston Cor
poration and certain bus operators was brought before the East Midland Traffic Commissioners, last week, when the companies sought to alter their terminus in the town. They agreed to the principle of payment for the use of the market square and offered id. per bus per departure, but the corporation insisted on is'.
It was held that, if the operators submitted to Ilkeston's wishes, other authorities might seek to take similar action, to the detriment of the industry as a whole. The Commissioners refused the appliCation on condition that the corporation charged id. per bus per departure.
SALFORD CORPORATION BILL AMENDED.
THE Parliamentary Committee of Lanes County Council reports that a petition was presented against the Salford Corporation Bill, in the first House, with regard to that part providing for the running of trolley-buses and the abandonment of tramways. Satisfactory clauses and amendments were, however, agreed and the petition was withdrawn.
The committee refers to certain of the more important amendments made in the measure. Under these the application of the corporation for a Provisional Order for new trolley-bus routes within a seven-mile radius is to be subject to the absolute consent of the local and/or the road authority. On existing train routes outside the city the reasonable consent of the local authority is to be obtained for the running of trolley-buses, or for connecting routes for such vehicles, where they do not exceed 250 yds. in length. If such connecting routes exceed that distance the absolute consent of the local authority is necessary.
TAXATION EQUALS 19-PER-CENT. DIVIDEND.
SPEAKING at the annual meeting, held in Dumfries, of the Caledonian Omnibus Co., Ltd., the chairman, Mr. C. D. Stanley, said that during the previous year the company had paid
£24,164 in licence duties and petrol tax. This, he declared, was equivalent to a dividend of 19 per cent, on the capital. Be hinted that unless the earnings of the company increased, certain routes would have,to be closed.
STATION FOR GUILDFORDt GUILDFORD Watch Committee has considered a scheme for the establishment of a bus station on part of the site occupied by the cattle market, and is to discuss the matter further before taking definite steps. '
VARIATIONS IN FARES.
AT a meeting, last Friday, the Main Fares Committee decided that, between London and inland towns, on routes where most of the passengers are engaged upon business, as opposed to pleasure, the fares should be capable of variation during the year. It was also agreed that privilege fares, besides those for children, be permissible.
NEW NOTTINGHAM MOVE.
NOTTINGHAM Corporation is recom mended to substitute trolley-buses for trams on four routes at a total estimated cost of £44,033. The purchase of vehicles would absorb £32,472. FURTHER TESTS OF RADIO TRANSMITTERS FOR COACHES.
SINCE the matter published in our
issue dated May 19, on the subject of radio for coaches, certain ultra-shortwave tests have been made by Mr. E. C. Taylor, of Messrs. C. Taylor and Son, Croydon. The tests were to ascertain the screening effects, using a 5-metre ultra-short-wave receiver fitted to a
vehicle. The aerial consisted of an 8-ft. length of insulated wire, fixed from the radiator cap to the luggage grid, no earth being used.
When the vehicle was travelling through the streets of Croydon, it was noticed that the direction governed the strength at which a transmitted signal could be received. Experiments will show whether it be possible to use a frame aerial, which could be mounted on a ball joint and turned to the best
direction. It may, however, be assumed that 5-m. transmissions are somewhat directional.
The results of the tests showed that little variation of signal strength is noticed when the vehicle passes under iron bridges, etc., and even the wellknown magneto interference, without the use of suppressers, did not cause much concern. Using only 120-volt high-tension batteries for the transmitter, which, at the time, was at a fixed point, it was possible to receive, while the vehicle was in motion, signals up to a distance of 15-20 miles.
With increased power on the transmitter and a movable aerial, there is no reason why this frequency could not be used for this type of communication. It must, however, be remembered that ordinary short-wave apparatus requires aerials of between 66 ft. and 120 ft. long.
"SOUTH MIDLAND" OPENS OXFORD'S NEW STATION.
THE latest example of a coach com pany providing station facilities for its passengers is the South Midland Motor Services, Ltd., which has opened a café in the centre of the new coach park at Oxford. At present, the café is unlicensed and closes at 8 p.m. It is, however, contemplated that arrangements will be made to keep open all night. Several concerns' coaches make meal stops at the premises, so that custom is available. MORE TRANSFERS OF ROUTES?
THE East Midland Traffic Commis sioners have received several applications for the transfer of licences. The Eastern Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., is seeking the licences previously granted to Messrs. A. NI. Bonham in respect of stage-carriage services from Bedford to Kimbolton, Thurleig,h and Sharnbrook.
The Lincolnshire Road Car Co., Ltd., is applying for the licence of Messrs. G. J. Saunby for excursions and tours, at inclusive return fares, from Helpringham. West Herts Motor Services, Ltd., is applying for the transfer of backings granted to London General Country Services, Ltd. (now part of the London Passenger Transport Board), in respect of excursions and tours, at inclusive return fares, from Tring and Watford.
The Metropolitan Commissioner is being asked to transfer to the West Herts concern the primary licences for the two last-named groups of excursions, as well as licences for express services previously operated by L.G.C.S. from Watford to Yarmouth, Berkhamsted to Brighton, and Watford to Southsea.
W. and G. Coathways (Manchester), Ltd., is seeking from the Western Commissioners the backing of a licence for excursions and tours previously held by Messrs. Weaver and Greatorex, and the Southern National Omnibus Co., Ltd., the stage-carriage licence of Mr. W. J. Ashton and Mr. R. Ley.
In the North-Western Area the applications for the transfer of licences are as follow :—Severn Motors (Newtown), Ltd., for excursion and tours licence of Messrs. F. E. Williams; Abbey Lane Motor Transport and Hire Service, for backings, of Brooks and Senior (Sheffield), Ltd., and Midland General Omnibus Co., Ltd., for express-service backing of Morton Bus Co.
EARLY START ON CARDIFF STATION?
THE method of proceeding with Car
diff Corporation's bus-station scheme has not yet been finally decided upon. In order, however, to expedite work on the plan, a deputation from the corpora. tion is to wait upon the Ministry of Transport and other Government Departments' when, it is hoped, everything will be concluded to enable the scheme to be proceeded with in the immediate future.
WHAT IS A "NEW" SERVICE?
A SETTLEMENT was reached at the
end of the hearing of an appeal by the Gosport and Fareham Omnibus Co., Ltd., against the granting of a licence to Mr. G. A. Cross, of Gosport, to continue a service worked by Mr. 11. Mason.
It may be recalled that the company maintained, at the Commissioners' sitting, that the granting of the licence constituted a breach of an Act of Parliament obtained by it in 1929. This argument was repeated at the appeal hearing, when it was contended that the combination of the services of Mr. Cross and Mr. Mason constituted a new service.
A settlement was, however, reached under Section 24 of the Act, concerning the numbers of journeys to be worked by the company and Mr. Cross. OILERS FOR NORTHAMPTON.
IN connection with the impending abandonment of the tramways on the Kingsthorpe route, Northampton's transport manager has prepared a report showing the capital costs involved and the estimated working costs of petrol buses, oil-engined vehicles and trolley-buses. He states that, owing to the low working costs and high efficiency of the oiler, as compared with the petrol bus, the latter could be eliminated and thus the choice lay between the trolley-bus or the oil-fuel vehicle.
The inauguration of a trolley-bus system would necessitate doubling the existing overhead wiring, etc., at a total cost of £6,000, to which must be added the cost of vehicles and the expense, coupled with the delay of obtaining Parliamentary powers.
The costs of the three systems were estimated as follow o--Trolley-buses, working costs per mile 11.5d.; six vehicles £12,000; filling in rails 1570; extra costs £6,000, plus Parliamentary expanses; total, £18,570. Petrol buses, working costs per mile 12.76d; six vehicles £10,770; filling in rails £570; total £11,340. Oilers, working costs per mile 10.53d.; six vehicles £10,800; filling in rails £570; total £11,370.
In view of these statistics, the committee recommends that tenders should be obtained for six oil-engined buses.
NEW TROLLEY-BUS OPERATOR?
IT is rumoured that Manchester Cor poration is shortly to be urged to replace trains by trolley-buses on certain routes which are thought to be eminently suitable for such operation.