Latest Passenger Transport
Page 22
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Developments in Hampshire
ANEW service which should have a great appeal to holiday-makers is to be introdUced at Easter by Hants and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd. Double-deck buses will run el.'rery hour in the summer and every two hours in the winter from Southampton to Bournemouth, via Lyndhurst, Ringwood and Ferndown, traversing some of the finest scenery in the south of
England.
It is also intended to restart the extended tours to Scotland, Wales, etc., which have :been in abeyance since 1539. New Bristol 28-seater coaches will be used for this work.
All routes in the Eastleigh area are being replanned, so that Eastleigh will cease to be a terminal point and the congestion-outside thestation will be relieved. Plans for a link between Lymington railway station and the Lymington bus station at the Londesborough Hotel are being made: this will greatly help travellers to and from the Isle of Wight.
The company reports that the war has had a marked effect in increasing the demand Tor-country serviCes, because of the apparently permanent dtspersal of much of the population:
Bournemouth Corporation is hoping during the year to obtain 24 B.U.T. trolleybuses and 30 motorbuses partly for replacements and partly for improved services. Discussions are going on between the 'transport and borough engineer's departments with regard to developments in its East Howe and Holdenhurst districts, where it is • planned to build large new communities.
A popular pre-war service which cannot at present be revived is that along the Undercliff Drive, formerly operated by toast-racks. The beach committee has banned all motor vehicles from the Drive, so that there is no direct connection between Bournemouth and 13oscombe Piers.
New Service Contemplated
The new transport manager, Mr. W. D. Reakes, M.Inst.T., has in mind the introduction of an East Cliff service, which will, to some extent, overcome • this difficulty and enable a through service to be run along the coast from Bournemouth Pier to Hengistbury Head.
The corporation still has certain unused powers under its Provisional Order of 1937, and the use of these depends mainly on the capital expenditure policy of the Government. Bournemouth was, however, able in August, 1948, to convert the Beaufort Road-Cranleigh Avenue motprbus route to trolleybus working, and a through service to Tuckton from Westbourne is now given during most of the day, as an alternative to the main line.
Bournemouth ratepayers will lose a valuable asset if an area scheme be introduced, for after meeting all its liabilities, the transport department was able in 1946-47 to contribute £50,000 to the local rates and in 1947-48, £23,700.