930,000 Commercial Vehicles in France
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FOLLOWING investigations carried out in 1950-1951, the French National Institute of Statistics has been able to arrive at correct figures for the total number of commercial vehicles of over 1-ton capacity in service. It is estimated that some 450,000 goods and utility vehicles from 5-cwt. to 1-ton payload capacity are operated in
France. In addition there are some 480,000 buses, coaches and goods vehicles over 1-ton capacity in service.
It his been found that the total number of public service vehicles is 21,859. Of this total, 18,603 are operated by transport concerns and 3,256 privately. Formerly it had been estimated that there were 22,000 buses'and coaches operated in France. Petrolengined vehicles total 8,00Ik and oilengined models 13,000. The remaining few hundred are electrically driven or use gas fuel.
Overestimates Corrected Figures for goods vehicles owned by hauliers reveal that these have been grossly overestimated in the past. The total number of goods vehicles over 1-ton capacity is 458,000, of which 60,000 are operated by hauliers and 398,000 under the equivalent of the British C-licence. It had been thought that hauliers operated 80,000-90,000 goods vehicles.
The average payload of hauliers' vehicles is 41 tons, and the average for private operators is 2/ tons. The new figures reveal that the growth of Clicence operation since the war has not, been as great as was thought. There is no indication of an increase in the size of vehicles employed on this work, thus confirming the impression that C-licence operators have not extended their activities into the public hauliers' sphere.
Most goods vehicles in France are of medium and light capacities, the average payload being slightly below the international average. Only 8,545 of
the 458,000 Vehicle's have a payload of .9-13 tons, of which 48 per cent. are operated by hauliers.
There are only 2,516 vehicles with a capacity of over 13 tons, of which 62 -per cent, are run by hauliers. Of all the vehicles over I-ton capacity, 79 per cent, have petrol engines, 16 per cent. oil engines and 5 per cent. are driven by electric or gas power. The number of medium-capacity vehicles has increased, most of the additional vehicles being operated by hauliers. The number of "heavies," most of which belong to hauliers, seems to be declining.
CORBY OPERATOR ACQUIRED
THE Corby concern of Thistle Services (Benefield), Etd., has been purchased by McLean Bros., Ltd., Glasgow. Three vehicles are involved in the transfer. The Thistle concern has been operating a week-end service from Corby to Glasgow for tome time and application is to be made by the new owner for permission to pick up passengers at Leicester, Loughborough and Nottingham, and to provide coaches three days a week.
McLean Bros., Ltd., has also acquired ' the tours business run by the Thistle company.
B.T.C. BORROWS 1120m. VESTERDAY, the British Transport 1 Commission made an issue of £120m. of British Transport 4 per cent. guaranteed stock, 1972-77, at £95 10s. per cent. The National Debt Commissioners have taken up £60m. of the loan. Before this issue was made, the Commission had already issued stock amounting to £1,250m.
A new jointing compound made by Richard Klinger, Ltd., Sidcup, Kent, is stated to increase the tightness and life of metal-faced gaskets and can replace gaskets of secondary importance.