"Selficontained" Transport for
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a Small Community
OPERATORS TAKE OVER AT KING'S CROSS
IT is understood that P.S.V. Operators, Ltd., the London independent coach operators' ticket organization, has become the lessee of King's Cross Coach Station. The new tenancy arrangement is stated to have come into force last week-end.
Until the agreement was signed last week, there was a danger that the operators using the station, including London Transport, would find themselves without a London terminus. The police refused to allow coaches to use the public highway as a terminal point and the Metropolitan Licensing Authority was much concerned about the situation.
P.S.V. Operators, Ltd., is financed by various coaching concerns in the Metropolitan Area and functions as a clearing house.
INTEREST ON L.P.T.B. STOCK NOT GUARANTEED
1N the House of Commons, last week, the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a statement implying that the Government is not obliged to continue to pay 3 per cent. interest on London Transport's 3 per cent, guaranteed stock (1967-72).
Mr. Nigel Birch asked him why this stock had been included in the schedule of transport stocks to be taken over under the transport nationalization scheme, having regard to the fact that it was guaranteed by the Government and, under the terms of issue, was not redeemable until 1967.
Sir J. Mellor asked for an assurance that the Government would respect and implement the guarantee by the Treasury of the principal of, and interest on, the stock.
The Chancellor answered: "The guarantee is against default on the Stock by the Board. No question of implementing the guarantee arises, if Parliament provides for the compulsory acquisition of the stock and the issue of compensation to the present owners."
A LTHOUGH merger enthusiasts have r-Lon several occasions suggested that the undertaking should be extinguished by the creation of a joint board for the area, Darwen Corporation's transport system continues to prosper and to provide services specially designed to suit the convenience of the 40,000 inhabitants of this Lancashire borough.
A fresh chapter in local transport history was opened in October when the trams were finally abandoned after a life of 65 years, and further buses were introduced..
It was in April, 1881, that the Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Co. began its services. The Act which authorized the undertaking provided that " in no case shall the company be bound to charge less than 3d. for each inside passenger and 2d. for each outside passenger," an illuminating proviso that is worth comparing with to-day's figures, which show an average of 3.46 miles for a 2d. workman's return fare, or 0.7 mile for an ordinary Id. single fare.
On the matter of speed, comparison is equally interesting. The steam tram of 1881 took 30 minutes from Darwen to Blackburn, and the electric trams of 1946 took precisely the same timel The history of Darwen Corporation's transport proper began in 1899, Mr. George Beckett, A.M.Inst.T., told "The Commercial Motor." It was in that year that the corporation secured power to purchase_ the tramways running in the borough and to change over to electric operation. The first trams were operated by the corporation in 1900.
Powers to operate motorbuses were secured in 1926. Several additional routes were opened in that year and, having regard to the public approval for buses, the town council subsequently decided on a progressive policy of replacing the trams. The last remaining tram routes were to have been abandoned in 1940, but the outbreak of war necessitated the institution of special new services, so that vehicles ordered for replacement purposes were deflected to more important use. Since the substitution of buses for the last of the trams, the fleet has risen to a total of 31 vehicles—all Leylands26 being double-deckers and 5 singledeckers_ Other buses are on order.
The undertaking was fortunate in that a modern garage in Blackburn Road had been erected and put into operation just before the war. Apart from the usual facilities for housing and cleaning vehicles, there are excellent repair bays, a spacious body-repair shop and a welllighted paint shop. To the fitting shop are attached a sub-unit assembly overhaul section and a fuel-pump test-house. To accommodate recent additions to the fleet extensions are in progress.
Tucked away in a valley, with Blackburn on the north and Darwen Moor on the south, the undertaking is closely restricted as to area, its only " outside " service being a limited-stop route to Blackburn, in conjunction with Blackburn Corporation. in order that the services might be employed as profitably as possible, propaganda has been directed towards encouraging the townspeople to make more frequent use of the buses for local travel. Post-war figures show that the number of passengers carried, as compared with pre-war traffic, has increased by more than twothirds, whilst revenue is up four-fifths.
BIG PLAN FOR HIGHLAND TOURS
APLAN to make Strathpeffer a centre for tours of the Highlands was outlined in the traffic court at Edinburgh, on November 27, during the hearing of an application by Northern Roadways, Ltd., Glasgow. The applicant wished to run a series of tours to Strathpeffer, which would be used as a base for fantail tours to such places as Glen A ffric, Black Isle !Mapco!, Culloden Battlefield. and Loch Ness.
Tours would be run by a subsidiary company, Travel Trips, Ltd., whilst another subsidiary, the Ben Wvvis Hotel, Ltd., would provide accommodation in Strathpeffer. Hearing of the application was adjourned until December 11. There were 10 objectors.
Mr. L. Hill Watson, K.C., for the applicant, said that the attraction of tourists was being encouraged by the Scottish Tourist Board created for this purpose, and Northern Roadways, Ltd., had the full hacking of that Board.
Mr. J. A. M'Ghee, managing director of Northern Roadways, Ltd., said that his comnany was working in close co-operation with the Strathpeffer Development Society, with whose aid en,ertainments would be provided for tourists.
EDINBURGH CENTRAL BUS STATION?
PLANS for a central bus station for Edinburgh. near St. Andrew Square, will soon lc completed by the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd.
Last month a special report by the chief constable and the city engineer was considered by Edinburgh Corporation's streets and buildings committee. Pro vision of several stations was recommended by the officials.
Mr. James Amos, S.M.T. traffic manager, told a correspondent that his company strongly favoured a central bus station. Extensive property, including the whole length of the south side of Clyde Street (north-east corner of St. Andros. Square) had been purchased for this purpose in 1937-39.
ONSLAUGHT ON NEWCASTLE
LLONGBENTON (Northumberland) Urban District Council is to call a meeting of Northumberland Urban Councils' Association to discuss the Haymarket bus station, Newcastle-onTyne, which was described at a meeting of the council' as "the worst in the country."
Newcastle City Council has under consideration a £6,000 scheme for improving the bus station, but the work is being held up until sanction to borrow the money is received.
TO MEET RISING COSTS
nN behalf of members, the Passenger Vehicle Operators Association has lodged applications with the Regional Fare Committees for increases of fares on express services. Operators are urged to attend meetings to support the applications, which are essential to ensure tha, revenue covers the steadily rising cost of operation.
TYNESIDE OMNIBUS SOCIETY?
PLANS are afoot for the formation of a branch of the Omnibus Society in the north-east area. Mr. J. F. Farthing, of Salters Road, Gosforth, Newcastle-on-Tyne, is sponsoring the scheme.
FARES CHASE WAGES
" THE last straw was the 7s. a week wage increase in February," said Mr. R. C. Moore, general manager of Sheffield Corporation's passenger transport department, in evidence at a Ministry of Transport inquiry, last week, into the corporation's application for sanction to raise fares.
His department was also concerned about present negotiations for a 40hour week, extra pay for overtime lad Sundays, and longer holidays, Mr. Moore said. If all these proposals came into effect, the cost to the Sheffield undertaking might well be in the region of £40,000 to £50,000 per annum. Presenting the corporation's case before Major F. S. Eastwood (Yorkshire Licensing Authority) and Mr. N. Reay (Ministry of Transport), the deputy town clerk (Mr. S. Hilton) said it was expected that by March, 1948, the department would be overspent by about £250,000. The increases which the corporation proposed were designed to produce about £260,000 in a full year. Some of the bus routes would not be affected.
Proposals detailed by Mr. Hilton include the abolition of the Id. fare, the minimum to be lid. for about 1k miles on the trams and I-11 miles on the buses; a 2d. fare up to two miles on the trams and 11-12 miles on the buses, and adjustment of other fares on mileage.
Decision was reserved.
HIGHER FARES MAY NOT STOP COSTS SPIRAL
ARESULT of mounting transport expenses might be the loss of traffic, said Mr. E. R. L. Fitzpayne, general manager of Glasgow Transport Department, in an address; last week, to the Institute of Transport, in Edinburgh. The time would come, he continued,. when the solution would not be simnly to increase fares. The public would find other means for transport—the private car, the bicycle, or walking.
Revenue was obtainable from only one source — fares — and must be sufficient to meet working expenses, capital charges and depreciation. "The time is fast approaching when extra vehicles will be put into service, with a resultant decreased revenue per mile, but with no corresponding decreased working expenses per mile," he said.
Mr. Fitzpayne suggested that the wider use of single-deck vehicles would reduce accidents on the vehicle itself and would be popular with an ageing pooulation. Accidents in boarding and leaving vehicles could be reduced by having separate exits and entrances. 'The new Glasgow trolleybuses would be so equipped.
Long-term plans for better vehjcles, segregation of traffic and imorovPd highways should be pressed with the utmost urgency. .
SUNDERLAND TRAMS TO GO?
1% R. C. A. HOPKINS, Su rtd.r1 a nd IVI Corporation's transport manaaer, has prepared a report on the posajSility of changing over the tramways tnanother form of transport. The renort will be considered at an early meeting of the transport committee.