Operating Aspects of
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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
THE LATEST NEWS OF IMPORTANT EVENTS
GLASGOW'S BUS CONTRACT ALLOCATED.
LAST Friday, Glasgow Transport LaCommittee allocated the contract for the supply of 110 oil-engined double-deck buses. Sixty complete Leyland buses and 50 Albion chassis are to be purchased, the latter having Cowieson bodies. Thirty of the Albions will have Beardmore engines and the re
maining 20 Gardner units. Certain details are still to be adjusted before the committee's recommendation is formally approved by the town council.
The 52-seater bodies are to be of all-metal construction and will be the first of their type in the Glasgow fleet, numbering nearly 400 petrol vehicles.
There has been much speculation as to the probable recipients of this important contract, and the names of most of the leading manufacturers have been mentioned in connection with it. All rumours are, however, now dispelled.
The allocation of the contract has, " however, caused dissatisfaction in the Scottish branches of the National Union of Vehicle Builders. The Union claims that, as there are 500 unemployed vehicle builders in Scotland, the order should have been given to local concerns.
It is understood that, in view of its order, William • Beardmore and Co., Ltd., Dalmuir, is to seek fresh capital to develop its business in the manufacture of oil engines.
D.U.T. MONOPOLY COMPLETE IN DUBLIN.
ATmidnight on Saturday last the Dublin Omnibus Co., the last independent bus concern in Dublin, was taken over by the Dublin United Tramways Co., Ltd. This marks the complete unification of passenger transport within the Dublin area and concludes the scheme initiated by the Free State Government, in 1933, for the reorganization of passenger transport in the area.
ELLIOTT BROS. NOT ACQUIRED BY THOMAS TILLING.
WE are informed by Mr. John F. Heaton, chairman of Thomas Tilling, Ltd., that the statement published in certain sections of the Press (not The Commercial Motor) to the effect that his company has acquired Elliott Brothers '(Bournemouth), Ltd., is incorrect. Mr. Heaton states that "negotiations have been in progress for the acquisition of this business on behalf of certain of
E42 our associated companies, but the matter is not yet finally concluded."
Mr. J. Elliott, of Elliott Brothers (Bournemouth), Ltd., when approachedby The Commercial Motor, was unable to make any comment on the matter.
NEW LICENCE REGULATIONS.
THE Public Service Vehicles (Driver's and Conductor's Licences) Regulations, 1934, will come into force on January 1. They do not differ materially from the draft which has already been circulated.
LAST LONDON INDEPENDENT.
THE undertaking of the last of the Metropolitan independent operators, the Prince Omnibus Co., was taken over by London Transport on Wednesday. The Prince company's eight buses operated over five routes.
RAILWAY OBJECTION OVERRULED.
" THINK that the railway company
1 has abused its locus to come here and oppose these applications," said Mr. W. Chamberlain, chairman of the North-Western Traffic Commissioners, on Monday, when the L. M. and S. Railway objected to an " all-in " tour from Clitheroe to Weston-super-Mare. The application by Y. Helliwell and Sons, Ltd., Nelson, was granted.
MANCHESTER OWNERS TO APPEAL.
AN appeal is to be lodged against the decision of the North-Western Traffic Commissioners in rejecting the co-ordination scheme of the C.M.U.A., Manchester, which has been the means, in the past three or four years, for effecting considerable economies for coach owners, by eliminating the use of half-filled coaches and in other ways promoting co-operation.
The scheme was based upon the interavailability of booking offices.
MORE SOUTH WALES TRAMS DOOMED?
WE understand that the South Wales Transport Co., Ltd., Swansea, is presenting a Bill to Parliament for powers to abandon tramways owned or leased, including the Swansea tramways. It is proposed to operate motorbuses in place of the trams and instead of trains, wholly or in part, on the Swanst,a-Mumbles Light Railway, which the company leases.
It is stated unofficially that over 50 additional buses would be required. EAST KENT COMPANY'S HIGHER PROFIT.
THE report of the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., for the year ended September 30, 1934, shows a net profit of £41,503, as compared with £26,168 for the preceding year, the amount available after adding the balance brought forward being R47,501. The general reserve receives an allotment of £1,000, whilst the dividend on the pre.. ference shares absorbs £13,000, and that, at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum, on the ordinary shares 421,000. After deducting these (lir hursements, the amount to be carrie forward is £12,500.
In the report mention is made of the fact that the London and South Coast Motor Services (1915), Ltd., a subsidiary of the company working mainly in the Folkestone district, has been liquidated and the business incorporated in that of the East Kent concern. The increase in revenue during the past year is mainly due to this fact and the acquisition of other services.
U.A.S. INVOLVED IN FARE-CUTTING CASE.
A QUESTION about the alleged em
ployment of its own detectives by a bus company, to test other operators' services, was asked during police-court proceedings at Scarborough, when United Automobilv Services, Ltd., was accused of fare-cutting.
It was recalled that, last June, the Traffic Commissioners received a complaint from the United company alleging fare-cutting by two other operators, Messrs. Hardwicke and Morley. A check was taken, as a result of which these two operators were convicted. In August, a farm labourer, at the request of Mr. Hardwicke, rode on a United bus, and he asserted that he was charged 4d. instead of dd.
Mr. J. Wurzal (for the Traffic Commissioners): "You don't know that the United have their own detectives, who are constantly testing other people's services? " Witness: "No."
The defendant did not accept the witness's statement.
Announcing that the United company would be fined Sc., the presiding magistratl stated that the magistrates convicted by a majority.
NEW LONDON BILL, nURING the present session of Par
liament, London Transport proposes to introduce a Bill to give effect, amongst other schemes, to the plan for the conversion of 58 miles of tramways to trolleybus working. BIRMINGHAM CO. TRANSFERS COUNTRY SERVICES.
A"portant decision affecting Nis services in North and West Herefordshire was reached by the West Midland Traffic Commissioners, at Hereford, last week, when the Commissioners agreed to transfer a number of services from the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., to Messrs. Yeomans and Sons, of Canon Pyon.
Mr. C. T. Sargeant, of Xington, objected to Messrs. Yeomans' operating on certain routes in the Xington area, and representations were made by local interests in his favour. The chairman pointed out that local predilections did not weigh with the Commissioners if the present services were adequate. Other objections were also either withdrawn or overruled.
It was stated that the Birmingham and Midland concern had been operating the services in North and West Herefordshire for a considerable number of years, and it was now able to put before the Commissioners a comprehensive scheme which would not only consolidate the services of the two companies, but benefit the general public. It was proposed that the company should transfer its country services to Messrs. Yeomans, and that, in return, Messrs. Yeomans should not operate in the city of Hereford.
The chairman objected to Messrs. Yeomans being debarred from picking up or setting down passengers in the city, and suggested that they should continue to operate, but that the Birmingham and Midland concern should have a protective fare. Subject to this condition, the Commissioners agreed to the transfer.
ABERDEEN GOING OVER TO OIL-ENGINED BUSES?
ABERDEEN Transport Committee is to recommend the purchase of 18 single-deck oil-engined (fiveor sixcylinder) buses to seat 36-39 passengers.
At a meeting of the committee, it la as intimated that, if the proposal were adopted, the new vehicles would be used over routes at present sewed by petrol buses, the latter to be employed only for peak-hour traffic. The manager estimated that on an annual mileage of 50,000, the saving per bus for fuel and lubricating oil would be £340, the total cost for the period for an oiler being £96 5s., against £436 Ss. for the petrol-engined type.
Against this economy there was the additional tax of £50 8s. per annum for an oiler. The manager also pointed out that the decarbonizing of a petrol engine was necessary after it had run 5,000 miles, whilst the compressionignition unit could be kept on the road until it had covered 30,000 miles.
FINE NEW S.M.T. STATION.
THE Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., has opened its new bus station at Buchanan Street, Glasgow. It is stated to be the largest and most up to date in Scotland.
FARES COMMITTEES TO CONSIDER NEW PROCEDURE.
TO-DAY (Friday) Nos. 1 and 2 Regional Sub-committees on Fares will hold a joint meeting at Holborn Restaurant, London, W.C., at 2.30 p.m. The committees will consider the recommendations made by a meeting of operators in London, five weeks ago, for the overhaul of the existing machinery for the variation of fares. The resolutions were reported in the issue of The Commercial Motor dated Noveinber 9.
The agenda also includes consideration of the desirability of fares periods being identical in various areas; summer fares for 1935; the advisability or otherwise of cheap excursions; advantages of issuing contract tickets, and the period of termination for summer fares, other than for 1935.
LIVERPOOL TRAM PROPOSALS CRITICIZED. • " IF Liverpool is going to be a tram ways city and the other Merseyside boroughs motorbus towns, how shall we ever get transport administration by a central body?" asked Mr. G. L. Reakes at a meeting of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, in commenting on the report by Mr. W. G. Marks, Liverpool's municipal transport manager, who proposes the purchase of 300 new trams and the development of the tramways.
The annual report of Teesside Railless Traction Board shows a loss of £2,000.
The transport committee of Birkenhead Corporation is to contribute £5,000 out of profits, every year, towards the cost, estimated at £28,000, of the reinstatement of roads after the abandonment of tramway tracks. BIGGER ISSUE SUGGESTED IN TICKET CASE.
T"question whether a bus company should be allowed to issue a return ticket which had not a predated time of expiry was raised at a sitting of the Southern Scotland Traffic Commissioners, when the Caledonian Omnibus Co., Dumfries, applied for permission to introduce a lower fare on one of its routes, during a certain part of the day, the ticket to be valid on the day of issue or any subsequent date.
On behalf of the London. Midland and Scottish Railway, which objected. it was pointed out that a clearly defined period of validity should be marked on the ticket. It was not shown as a special ticket and holders could use it at any time in the day.
The chairman said that the court had never before been asked to consider such a point. On the railway such a ticket was available and could be used subsequently, provided that the holder paid the difference in the fare. He suggested that the matter be taken back to the companies concerned and that their representatives should return and raise the matter on a bigger issue than the present one.
The railway company intimated that its objection was to the present application and that it did not desire the Commissioners to investigate the general question of the period of validity of tickets. The decision of the Commissioners was deferred SOUTH WALES ASSOCIATION IN A STRONG POSITION.
A STRONG financial position was r't shown by the accounts of the Motor Omnibus Proprietors Association (South Wales), which were presented by Mr. C. Thomas, secretary, at the annual meeting of the Association, at Swansea, on November 29. Mr. W. E. Gough presided and was elected chairman for the third successive year.
For the second consecutive year, Mr. F. S. Bassett. was appointed viceLhairman. The executive committee was elected, as follow :—Messrs. Howell M. Davies, E. V. Ralph, G. Bown, T. White, H. Gosling. V. Jones, J. L. John, H. A. Taylor, G. Taylor, J. M. Bacus and Col, R. G. Llewellyn,J.P. Mr. Davies was appointed chairman of the joint conciliation board.
NO PROSECUTION IF BETTESHANGER CLUB APPEALS.
A REMARKABLE development that
has brought into question their powers has followed the refusal of the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners to grant licences for the operation of buses by Betteshanger Miners' Mutual Selfhelp Club. The reasons for refusing the application were quoted last week.
It is understood that the Commissioners informed the club's legal representative that, if an appeal was lodged immediately, they would not institute a prosecution fdr contract-carriage offences under Section 26 of the Road Traffic Act, 1934. This Section came into force on December 1.
At a sitting of the Commissioners on Monday, they were asked, on behalf of the local operators concerned, what action they proposed to take. Sir Henry Piggott, chairman, repeated the statement reported above, remarking that hardship might be caused if the vehicles stopped running. The operators are considering whether it is advisable or practical.de to carry the matter further, to secure the fulfilment of Parliament's wishes.
NEW RAILWAY OFFENSIVE.
I N reducing fares still further and in troducing new concessions to passengers, the railway companies have dealt another blow at the coaching industry. It was announced on Monday that the misnamed summer tickets at ld. per mile would, in future, be known as monthly return tickets, and additional concessions to holders would be afforded.
There will be an experimental reduction of 10 per cent, in first-class cheap fares, these being based on a rate 50 per cent, higher than the corresponding
third-class fares. The prices of firstclass tourists' tickets issued from May 1 to October 21 inclusive will be reduced by 26 per cent., and third-class by 18 per cent.
It is significant that these reductions arc announced at a time when negotiations are said to be proceeding between the railways and the leading coach and bus interests for an agreement on the question of fares.
TRADE TO HELP OPERATORS?
AN appeal for financial support from motor manufacturers and dealers is being made by the Coach Operators Special Committee (North Western Area), of which Mr. C. Y. Lloyd is chairman and treasurer. The committee, in its appeal, points out the effects upon the whole of the motor trade of increasing restrictions upon operators, and explains the work of the committee in combating repression.
PROMOTING INTEREST ON TOURS.
IVE learn that Travelsigns, Ltd., 6, VV High Street, Wimbledon, London, S.W.19, has appointed Travel Service, Ltd., Polebrook House, Golden Square, London, W.1, as sole distributor of the Silent Guide Service in Great Britain.
The guide itself consists of an automatic indicator in which a number is exhibited when the coach approaches a place of interest. The number refers to a certain paragraph in a descriptive booklet provided for passengers. An. improved apparatus has Just been introduce+: ANOTHER THROUGH-BOOKING PLAN TO BE FOUGHT.
THERE will be strong opposition 1 before the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners, at Middlesex Guildhall, London, S.W.1, on December 12, to an application by Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., to introduce through bookings on all points on its bus services. Objections have been lodged by the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association and individual operators. EAST KENT THROUGH.BOOKING SCHEME FAILS,
ON Monday last, the South Eastern ,Traffic Commissioners refused a further application by the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., to introduce through bookings from minor fare stages to London. As reported in The Commercial Motor dated November 23, it had been agreed that, if another application of this class were refused, the remainder of the group would be with
drawn. This action was taken on Monday. Sir Henry Piggott, chairman, repeated his statement that other operators on the routes must be protected.
PARTY ORGANIZER FINED.
AS a result of a trip from Horsham to the Ford works at Dagenham, organized by Mr. G. Rice, he and Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., were, last Friday, prosecuted by the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner for contract-carriage offences, the hearing taking place at Horsham Sessions.
The coaches supplied by the Southdown concern travelled from Horsham to Westminster Pier, where the passengers, who were charged 15s. each, boarded a steamer to complete the journey by river. The trip was advertised: Mr. Rice stated that he thought it was the Southdown company's liability to ascertain whether licences were required. He would not presume to inquire whether the company understood its business. Payment was made m a lump sum.
Mr. A. H. Bowman, assistant traffic manager of Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., said that the company was under the impression, from past experience of similar trips, that it was a works outing. There were lengthy legal arguments and, on one occasion, both sides based their submissions on the same case. The summonses against the company were dismissed, but Mr. Rice was fined £1,