The Case for 70-80 Seat Front-entrance Buses
Page 43
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IVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL should consider placing an order for 200 largecapacity vehicles of front-entrance design. This suggestion is made by the Corporation Transport Department's general manager, Mr. W. M. Hall, in his report to the council on future developments in vehicles.
The present Liverpool bus fleet comprises 1,215 vehicles, and Mr. Hall says that by the adoption of large-capacity vehicles of 70-80 seats it may be possible ultimately to reduce the Corporation fleet to about 1,000 vehicles.
Vehicles at present in use have an average seating capacity of 58 persons. To obtain first-hand experience of the behaviour of the larger-type vehicles and to examine the effect of introducing buses with front entrances into the Liverpool fleet, three 30-ft.-long buses have been operating in an experimental capacity on various routes in the city, two of them having front entrances (Leyland Titan and Leyland Atlantean) and the third (A.E.C. 13ridgemaster) having the more usual open rear platform, As a result of these trials the following conclusions were reached:— 1. The bus to replace the existing fleet should have as large a seating capacity as possible in order to make the maximum impact on peak-hour conditions.
2. Fully automatic or semi-automatic transmission and compressed-air braking should be fitted.
3. The vehicles should be of frontentrance design, preferably of a type which does not need several steps at the entrance to the saloon, and automatic doors should be fitted.
4. Some form of interior heating should be provided.
5. It would appear that the fuel consumption of larger vehicles is no worse by comparison with the standard vehicle when the greater load capacity is taken into account, and the acceleration is satisfactory when a suitable axle ratio is fitted.
6. Judged by other operators' experience and our own experiments it appears that it should be possible to maintain existing schedules with the larger bus with front entrance, Admittedly on test, loading and unloading has been slightly slower but neither passengers nor staff are yet wholly familiar with this type of vehicle, and they are not making full use of the advantages which it offers in fare collection and ease of loading.
7. The capital cost of the large-capacity vehicle is likely to be about £1,000 more than the standard type. An analysis has been made, however, of the savings which would accrue, due to the reduced number of vehicles which would be required. if the present fleet was replaced by large capacity buses. Experience gained by other operators has been taken into account as well as the particular operating conditions in Liverpool, and, taking into consideration the increased capital cost, it is estimated that there will be a saving in the region of £256.000 a year when the existing fleet is completely replaced in 18 years* time.