The Motor Omnibus World.
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The service between Dover and Lydd will be finally considered by the Dover Town Council at their next meting, when it is anticipated that the necessary licenses will be issued.
Interesting developments are arising out of the intended service between Llangollen and Oswestry-. The moving spirits in this scheme are also arranging for a road route between Llangollen and Bettvvsy-coed. This will open up a beautiful tourist district which has hitherto only been reached by the railway.
The old-world district of West Mersea in Essex is to be linked up with Colchester by a 'bus service. The Great Eastern Railway will shortly initiate the scheme, with a time-table covering three journeys each way daily. Single fare will be Ind. , and the first 'bus will leave West Mersea in time to catch tile up train at the North Station, Colchester, at 10.30 a.m.
The London Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., whose prospectus was issued on January tith last, have already begun operations with five Milnes-Daimler double-deck vehicles between the Law Courts and Brondesbury. This route is not found amongst the six announced at the start of the undertaking. The fare between the two points named has been reduced so per cent. (from 8d. to 4d.), and as the time is halved as compared with the horse 'buses, the public will reap an allround advantage. An innovation is to be made also in giving a name to each line or route, the first being termed the Vanguard.
Wolverhampton (which, like many of the provincial councils, owns its own tramway service) initiated a service of 'buses last week. The first one delivered is a double-deck, to carry 30 passengers, and upon its pioneer journey the chairman of the Tramway Committee, Alderman Mander, occupied the post of honour beside the driver. The Penn Road district will be served by three 'buses, giving a 10 minutes' service, and should the experiment prove successful, the whole district within the control of the Council which is not trammed will be linked op with the centre of the town by the more elaslic 'bus. We are certain the Wolverhampton Council will have no cause to regret the orders they have placed with Messrs. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., of Chiswick.
Tunbridge Wells is a select residential district and the town and neighbourhood are famed for picturesqueness. There has been a heated, and at times acrimonious discussion as to the merits of the electric tram and the motor 'bus, and the latter has come out victorious. Such a large number of the wealthy residents were in opposition to any tramway scheme and voiced their ideas in no uncertain fashion that the Town Council have had to bow to the wishes of the ratepayers. The erection of unsightly Standards through the principal streets of the town and along the charming roads which diverge in every direction was brought forward as one great objection; moreover, had the Council decided upon laying tramways, numbers of those who have settled in Tunbridge Wells because of its peaceful character would have immediately left the neighbourhood.
One of the G.W. Railway 'bus drivers running between Wrexham and Farndon was summoned recently by the driver of a horsed vehicle for " not stopping when signalled." The evidence of plaintiff and defendant was at variance, but fortunately the statements of the latter were confirmed by the conductor and several passengers. The defence was that the signal to stop was given when the vehicles were Go yards apart, and that the 'bus was stopped at once. The horsed trap continued until within 30 yards of the 'bus, when the horse swerved and dashed into the hedge. The magistrates dismissed the case.
The case referred to above will serve as a warning to 'bus drivers to invariably secure • the names and addresses both of passengers and any passing pedestrians who witnessed an accident. In certain districts one or two will not •suffice, and so every person who is an actual witness should be secured. We would urge upon all who have the management of 'bus services to bring this point prominently to the notice of their servants. Printed notices affixed in prominent positions in the dep6ts will save considerable trouble and, mayhap, expense.
The Vanguard Sunday route will be to the top of Richmond Hill, which has hitherto been inaccessible except to pedestrians or hirers of the local cabs.
Messrs. Durham, Churchill and Co., of Grimesthorpc, Sheffield, whose 19-seated char-a-banc we illustrated last week, are now building a larger type to carry 30 passengers. The new vehicle will have a 24h.p. engine and will be of British manufacture throughout.
We shall be glad to give publicity to reasonable complaints of inattention to local affairs by those who ought to have the best interests of their districts in view. Correspondence should be authenticated by the writer's name and address, not necessarily for publication, but as a sign of good faith.
We shall be interested to see whether the passengers will follow the lead set by the L.M.O.C., Ltd., and adopt the route names, or will rest content with the old indications of the two terminal names, such as Liverpool Street and Fulham.
The Vanguard line of 'buses of the L.M.O. Co., Ltd., will start at 6 a.m. and cease running at 2 a.m. This will work out at about 140 miles per day for each 'bus, and will necessitate the employment of two sets of conductors and drivers. The recent scare raised by the non-technical press as to loss of work by drivers and conductors of horse vehicles displaced is thus quickly disproved..
The Borough Council at Harrogate is still "considering " as to whether it will give permission for a service of motor 'buses in the town. The matter of permission being granted was referred to a special committee three months ago, and there seems no likelihood of the belated report appearing upon the Council agenda for many a long day. Surely the time is past when prejudiced councillors can shelve questions ol importance to the ratepayers in this unseemly fashion. A business man would decide such a simple point in a few hours.