AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Facilitating the Task of Collecting Fares.

9th February 1926
Page 8
Page 8, 9th February 1926 — Facilitating the Task of Collecting Fares.
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

MEE problem of issuing tickets .L to passengers on Motorbuses and tramcars is one which has received considerable attention of recent years, and many efforts have been made to introduce machines which will speed up the work and also ease the conductor's task. The group of tramways associated with the Underground Group, London, i.e., the Metropolitan Electric Tramways, Ltd., the London United Tramways, Ltd., and the South Metropolitan Electric Tearaways and Lighting Co., Ltd., have had this matter ender consideration for several years, first, in connection with the introduction of one-man cars, and, secondly, with a view to improvements in ordinary fare collection.

A joint committee representing omnibus and tramway interests was recently set up under the chairmanship of Mr. C. j. Spencer, general manager of these companies, to go fully into the matter in conjunction with manufacturers. After closely considering the various systems and machines which were availablefrom European and American sources, it was decided that none of them was entirely adaptable to the complicated system of fare celIeeton in vogue in this country and that

It would be necessary to design a special machine for the purpose.

The first machine incorporating the ideas Wet were thought desirable has now been designed and mamifactured by Mr. A. C. Aspinall, Si, Cannon Street, London, E.C., and it is being experimented with on the M.E.T. tramway system. Although for the moment the machine is being applied to tramcars only, it would appear to be equally suitable for use by conductors on motorbuses, and for this reason we feel justified in referring to its Illflin features of construction.

The aim has been to have one standard ticket which would he available for all the various fares involved, but it was considered that no form of printing device, especially in a machine in which the requirements of portability necessarily limited the weight and Size, was likely to be successful. It was decided, therefore, to have a preprinted ticket showing all the necessary fare stages, etc., and to indicate the items applicable on issue by means of the type of punch hole which is now employed. The size of the machine is, of course, influenced by the range of fares which is to be issued, and it is obvious that where only fares of id. to

6.d. are in vogue, the machine would be of smaller size than where longer journeys are undertaken and higher fares charged.

The general exterior construction of the machine can be seen from the accompanying illustrations. On the top of it is a number of buttons, one for each value of ticket issued, and one for each class of ticket, i.e., workman's, child's, ordinary and return. Each of these buttons is connected with a cyclometer dial which advances in numerical order each time the individual button is operated. On one end of the machine is a knob (A) for unlocking purposes, and also a milled disc. (B), which is used fer setting the fare stage. The other end of the machine carries a knob (C) which is used for ejecting the ticket and also a lever (D) for punching the fare stage. At this end of the machine there is also a transparent cover through which the serial number of the ticket can be seen. The various cyclometer dials are fitted at the bottom of the machine and are enclosed, being protected by a transparent cover, which can only he removed by authorized officials.

The Aspinall ticket machine possesses the following outstandine, advantages:—(1) It simplifies waybill entries and the checking of tickets ; (2) it speeds up the issue of tickets; (3) it reduces delay in paying in; (4) it permits the use of one earamon ticket which can he punched to provide for all classes and prices of ticket ; (5) it allows the use of a common serial number for all classes and values of ticket, thus redecing the risk of the use of dead tickets; '(6)' it can easily be manipulated in the dark. The whole of the operations can be carried out by the sense of touch instead of it being necessary for the conductor to find the correct place on the ticket which has te be punched ; (7) it avoids the necessity of carrying an unwieldy ticket rack, thus leaving the conductor's hands free to give change.

We shall watch with interest the experiment which is now proceeding, and the results of which may have an important bearing on the methods employed for issuing tickets on all classes of public-service vehicle by promoting their efficiency.

Tags

Locations: London

comments powered by Disqus