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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
LATEST NEWS FROM THE TRAFFIC AREAS
NORTHERN STATION DISPUTES: MINISTRY INQUIRY REQUESTED.
A CLIMAX has been reached in the —ions-station dispute at Newcastle, where operators using the Haymarket station have asked the Minister of Transport to hold an inquiry into the conditions obtaining there.
It will be remembered that, last September, members of the Northern Road Transport Owners Association using the Haymarket station refused to pay rent anti. Newcastle Corporation improved the premises, but, it is understood, nothing has been done in the matter, so it has been decided to place the whole of the correspondence between the Association and the town clerk and the Traffic Commissioners before the Minister of Transport.
Proposals for facilitating traffic in the Haymarket have been discussed by representatives of the corporation, the police and the operators, and an alternative plan has been submitted and rejected.
At Hexhana, a situation on somewhat similar lines has arisen. Hexham Urban District Council has decided to let the new bus station to United Automobile Services, Ltd., hut this is being strongly opposed by numerous other operators, who, it is stated, thus become subtenants of the United concern. Opera tors in this district have also requested the Minister of Transport to• hold an inquiry.
MORE TRAMS TO GO.
IT is proposed to abandon Wallasey Corporation's Rake Lane tramways at the end of the year and to replace them by a motorbus system. The conversion will be made under a five-year plan, involving the substitution of buses for the whole of the tramways.
DOUBLE-DECREES IN ECCLES.
THE Eccles authority has notified the Traffic Commissioners that it has no objection to Manchester Corporation's proposal to operate double-deck buses on the Worsley-Audenshaw route, so far as that part within Eccles is concerned. Their attention has been drawn to the two overhead railway bridges at Mouton. RAIL-ASSOCIATED CO. TARES OVER INDEPENDENT SERVICES.
IT is understood that on December 1 the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., took over from Goodfellows Services (1930), Ltd., the latter company's Manehester-Alderley and Branxhall routes. Special cheap-return business tickets, obtainable until 10 a.m., are in force. These replace the contract tickets hitherto issued.
COMMISSIONERS' ACTION ULTRA VIRES?
-VVHEN the Western Transport Co., Ltd., appealed against the grant by the North Western Traffic Commissioners of licences to four small operators, it was submitted that these firms had been running an irregular service by means of six-seater cars, and it was argued that, in granting the licences, the Commissioners had acted ultra vires, because the operators' present vehicles were not in use prior to the passing of the Road Traffic Act.
AGREED FARES.
IN Gazette 61 of the Western Traffic Commissioners there are published three pages of inclusive return fares agreed by operators of excursions and tours from Plymouth. The rates are for day and half-day trips, and some include tea or a river journey.
NEW COACH STATION AT WINDSOR.
WITHIN the next fortnight or so a new garage and coach station is to be opened in St. Leonard's Road, Windsor, for London General Country Services, Ltd., and Green Line Coaches, Ltd. The premises have been planned on modern lines and will provide accommodation for 60 vehicles.
At the front of the station are a waiting-room, inquiry office and conductors' room. The garage equipment is of the latest type, including electrically operated petrol pumps delivering 20 gallons of petrol per minute. FURTHER STEP IN CONTROLLING BOOKING AGENTS.
ANOTHER meeting to consider the scheme, mentioned in last week's issue, for the control of booking agents, primarily in the London area, was held at 3 p.m. at 157, Great Portland Street, on Wednesday last.
The conference was called by the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association, and we understand that over 60 operators, including, we are informed, the Timpson, United, Ewer and Yelloways concerns, and the King's Cross Coach Station, support the scheme, which is designed to protect operators' interests, to ensure prompt weekly payment in respect of bookings and to provide an efficient system of centralized control.
L.G.O.C. EXPERIMENTING WITH NEW 60-SEATER.
WE understand that the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., is experimenting with a new type of A.E.C. four-wheeled bus, known as the SM model. It is stated to be an adaptation and combination of the new T type, and Is designed to carry 60 passengers, 26 in the lower saloon and 34 on the upper deck. Whilst the design has not been radically changed, several detail improvements have been made to give greater comfort and convenience.
MOVE TO FIX CONTRACT FARES.
A MOVE is being made in Yorkshire
to deal with the delicate problem of contract work. At a meeting of three of the sub-area sections of the Yorkshire Regional Fares Committee, at Leeds, an Monday last, it was unanimously resolved to ask the committee to arrange a conference between all passengervehicle operators in Yorkshire and the railway companies, with t view to at-. tempting to regulate charges and procedure in connection with this class of work.
The subject of the fares to be charged for excursions and tours, for 1933, was also considered and, in the majority of cases, agreement was reached. Difficulty arose only where an excursion was operating to the same terminal point as a stage-carriage service, and where the excursion fare was lower than the stage-service rate.
BLACKPOOL AGREEMENT.
REPRESENTATIVES of Blackpool Corporation bus department and Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., held a meeting at Blackpool last Friday, and decided to draw up an agreement to provide that Blackpool shall have efficient bus services without overlapping, and that the corporation shall operate within a distance of six miles from the borough. The agreement will be for five years, but subject to variation.
RESIDENCE QUALIFICATION FOR TRANSPORT WORKERS.
AN interesting notice of motion came before Liverpool City Council at its meeting on Wednesday last, when Councillor H. Nuttall proposed that, in every agreement which shall be made giving powers to operate or run transport services within the municipal area of Liverpool, either jointly or as agent, or otherwise, as between the corporation and any other authority, there shall be inserted a clause having for its purpose :— 1342 (1) That the employees required shall be men who have resided for at least three years in Liverpool; (2) that in all cases where the making of such an agreement shall bring about a redundance of employees in the transport services of the city council, preference of employment shall be given to redundant employees bk such an operating authority, company or body.
The motion stood referred to the tramways and motorbus committee for report.
SMALL OPERATOR WINS.
WE learn that Mr. F. Sandes, of Boo, has, on a new application, been granted a licence by the South-Eastern Traffic Commissioners, despite strong opposition by the Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., on the ground that Mr. Sandes was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence. It may be remembered that the service was originally suspended by the Commissioners.
ANYWHERE TICKETS: "EASTERN COUNTIES" TO TRY AGAIN.
IN connection with the anywhere ticket controversy in East Anglia, the general manager of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., has stated that when winter is over and other questions relating to fares, now before the Traffic Commissioners, have been disposed of he proposes again to deal with the matter, to ascertain if some modification of the company's original scheme will be acceptable to the Commissioners.
YORKSHIRE COMMISSIONERS' WARNING.
THE chairman of the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners (Mr. J. Earndale) has stated that in future the Commissioners would take strict measures to ascertain whether services were being run to time-table and, if irregularities were found, operators might have their licences revo:md.
BIG CONFERENCE OF FARESCOMMITTEE.CONVENERS.
ON December 14, at 11 a.m., a meet ing of conveners of all the Regional Fares Sub-committees is to be held in London, when the business will be to consider all the resolutions passed by the various committees.
No. 1 committee will meet on the same day, at 2.30 p.m., to consider the 1933 fares schedules for express services and excursions and tours, as well as railway operations in relation to fares.
HULL STATION SCHEME CARRIED.
AT a meeting of Hull Corporation's
transport committee, on Monday last, a resolution for the adoption of the scheme for establishing a central bus station was carried. The proposed site is close to Paragon railway station and Ferensway, and the scheme is estimated to cost 1115,730.
It is intended that the municipal and company-owned buses shall use the station, and negotiations with the undertakings concerned are in progress. It is stated that they have offered to contribute £1,000 a year towards the cost, but this has not been accepted, and further discussion will take place. The construction of an hotel and a cinema is partly dependent op the scheme being carried through.
FINE MANCHESTER GARAGE.
EXTENSIONS to Manchester Cor
poration's garage and depot at Parrs Wood, Didsbury, increase the area covered to pearly 21 acres, and accommodate 175 buses. A brake tester has been installed and underground storage is now provided for 20,000 gallons of petrol and 10,000 gallons of oil, the entire supply of which is under the control of one employee. Six pits are provided for heavy docking, and nine for light repair work.
1,500 MEN AFFECTED BY WAGE REDUCTIONS.
AFTER a five-hour meeting at New castle, last Saturday, bus drivers of the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., the General County, the Sunderland and District, the Tynemouth and District concerns, and Wakefields Motors, Ltd., agreed to accept a wage reduction of 2s. weekly.
Conductors' wages are to remain at £2 10s. a week, and there will be no reduction in the wages of garage hands and other employees. About 1,500 men are affected by the proposals. Drivers' wages will now he 13 2s. for a 48-hour week.
EXPRESS SERVICES AT EXCURSION RATES.
A NEW point of policy was raised by
an application by Hebble Motor Services, Ltd., of Halifax, to the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners, last week. The company asked to be allowed to carry passengers to Blackpool from pickingup places in Yorkshire, on express services, at day-excursion rates.
It was stated that the concern realized that a general principle was involved, and, if the Commissioners were prepared to grant the application, the company did not suggest the permission should be restricted to it. The Commissioners reserved their decision.
COMMISSIONERS IN JOINT CONFERENCE.
A JOINT conference is to be held
between the South Wales Traffic Commissioners, Llanelly Rural District Council and the South Wales Transport Co., Ltd., regarding the use of doubledeckers on the Llanelly-Pontyates-Car marthen route. The council alleges that the road is unsuitable for such vehicles.
OPPOSED TO DEARER FARES.
Tnn highways committee of Gilling ham Corporation recommends that a sub-committee be formed to deal, in conjunction with the Chatham and Rochester authorities, with proposals of the Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., and the Chatham and District Traction Co., to increase fares. Formal objection to the companies' action has been lodged with the Traffic Commissioners.
DISCONTENT WITEI LICENSING PROCEDURE.
LANCASTER Corporation has de cided to support representations by the Lancashire Non-County Boroughs Association against the cumbersome, dilatory, ineffective and highly expensive procedure relating to buses under the Road Traffic Act.
NO. 6 SUB-COMMITTEE MEETS.
ON Tuesday last, a meeting of the No. 6 (East) Regional Sub-Committee was held at Ipswich Town Hall, when consideration was given to excursions and tours (the basic rate of fares, and the definition of "day," "halfday " and " evening " tours), the standardization of fares for cross-country express services, children's fares, special concessions and other matters.
CONTRACT-CARRIAGE CASE.
Ashington Police Court, last week,
J. C. Firmin was charged with using an express carriage for an excursion to the Blackpool illuminations, without holding a road-service licence. The defendant is an employee of United Auto
mobile Services, Ltd., and it was contended that the vehicle had been used on a special occasion by a private party.
The passengers, so far as was ascertained, were either employees or relatives of employees of the company, but it was claimed that the ellcursion bad been publicly advertised, which precluded the defendant from claiming the party to be private.
The magistrates decided that the vehicle came under the definition of an express carriage and Firman was fined 10s. with 7s. costs.
ELEVEN NEW BUSES FOR GLOUCESTER.
THE transport committee of Glouces ter Corporation is taking delivery of 11 Thornycroft BC-type one-manoperated b.uses with 26-seater bodies built by the Gloucester Railway Car riage and Wagon Co., Ltd., Gloucester. The vehicles are intended for replacing existing trams and the first four buses Were put into service last week.
The accompanying illustration shows the smart lines of one of the vehicles, which has a folding door at the front. The body panels are easily removable for replacement and consist of silverfinished steel, treated on the inner face with Carbolastic, which, besides preventing corrosion, obviates drumming.
The seats are of Siddall and Eilton make, and are upholstered in motmette, with leather facings. Ventilation is effected by means of six Q.T. half-drop windows, each with a louvre above it, and three Ashanco air extractors in the roof.
So far as The chassis is concerned, this Is equipped with a six-cylindered engine of 6.9 litres capacity, rated at 40.8 h.p. MANCHESTER'S DECREASED REVENUE.
A REPORT has been prepared by Mr.
R. Stuart Pilcher, Manchester Corporation's transport manager,, in order to draw the attention of the transport committee to the financial position of the undertaking.
It is shown that, in 1928, the total revenue from the trams and buses was £1,977,159; in 1929, £2,029,196; in 1930, £2,089,242; in 1931, £2,118,935;
and in 1932, 12,104,535. During the present financial year to November 12 last the total revenue has decreased by £14,090.
Mr. Pilcher points out that, during the past three years, the tramways revenue has been seriously falling. Last year, the decrease, as compared with the figure for 1931, was £46,659. It is also pointed out that the capital charges have been heavy, hut that the conversion from trams to buses on 16 per cent, of the system has been of considerable value in improving the financial position.
The expenses on the trams have been reduced from 17.578d. to 16-896d. per car-mile, and on the buses from 14.7911. to 14.024d. per bus-mile, and 110 further substantial economies can be made. Mr. Filcher reaches the conclusion that consideration will have to be given to slight revisions of fare stages.
ANOTHER STATION FOR EASTBOURNE.
IT is reported that Chapman's Garage,
Eastbourne, which occupies a site close to the front and has recently beeu sold to Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., is to be converted into a modern coach station. The fact that it has entrances on three sides makes it particularly suit able for this purpose. It is believed that there will be platforms, waiting rooms, offices and kiosks.
BUS STATION FOR LEEDS?
THE recently constituted Traffic
Advisory Committee for Leeds will shortly commence its activities. The Commercial Motor understands that one of its first tasks will be to consider the suitability of a vacant site near Kirkgate Markets for a central bus station.
COUNSEL'S OPINION ON PASSES FOR COUNCILLORS.
COUNSEL'S opinion has been taken on behalf of the Association of Municipal Corporations on the question of passes or contracts for members of town councils to use municipal buses.
In his opinion there is legally no obligation on the corporation to make a charge to anyone, and nothing, therefore, to prevent it from making preferential charges. Ordinarily, a councillor is not disqualified when he contracts with the corporation for carriage on vehicles or a supply of electricity or water, but, in the case of a special contract for the payment of a portion of the ordinary rate or a nominal sum, he is, in counsel's opinion, disqualified from beiug a member. "I think the issue
ofpass free of charge, which was clearly expressed to be a mere licence revocable at the will of the council, would create no contract and would not disqualify," he says.
SOUTH WALES ASSOCIATION AND OIL ENGINES.
THE executive committee of the Motor Omnibus Owners Association (South Wales) met at Cardiff, last Friday, and discussed the " back-to-coal " movement and the matter of oil enginbS.
After considerable examination of oilengine developments, a resolution was unanimously passed stating that whenever it was practicable everything possible should be done to assist the coal industry by the change-over from petrol to oil engines. MR. CHAMBERLAIN ON PROTECTION.
DURING the hearing of an applica
tion for the renewal of an expresscarriage licence, Mr. W. Chamberlain, chairman of the North-Western Traffic Commissioners, commenting on the question of protection for local services, said that, in the experience of the Commissioners, prohibition had not always been an effective form of protection. It had been the practice of the Commissioners not to meddle by increasing fares.
Twelve months had passed and it was doubtful whether the Commissioners would not have to go back to that form of protection. Such a change, he said, would mean an extraordinary reshuffle of all the services in the north-western area.