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How BLACKPOOL SELLS Bo'( TRAVEL TO HOLID YMAKERS

9th June 1939, Page 46
9th June 1939
Page 46
Page 47
Page 46, 9th June 1939 — How BLACKPOOL SELLS Bo'( TRAVEL TO HOLID YMAKERS
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

A Municipality Copes With a Season Extending From June to September. One Third of Total Fleet inoperative During Winter Months. Linking of Departments Assists in

• Extensive Maintenance Work

IN many respects. Blackpool, the great Lancashire seaside resort, can claim t.o he unique, but in transport —as in other matters—that sometiines. enviable position implies the existence of unusual problems. Built up on a background of Lancashire industrial holidays and extended by the aid of skilful publicity, the Blackpool season extends from June to September, with lesser flows at various other periods.

The sharp contrast between the services required for the settled populalation of some 100,000 and those of " the season," when the town is crowded with visitors, is clear from the fact that only a third of the available rolling stock is in use during the quiet winter periods, whilst, during the busiest part of the summer, the depot

will be empty. Certainty of such a difference in requirements, however, is in one way, a sledded advantage, for a proportion of definitely summer-type vehicles can be included in the fleet.

Over 160 buses are operated and all are of Leyland manufacture. In addition to more or less "bread and butter " types, the holidaymaker is provided with special " boat "-type single-deckers which operate on circular trips and link up with the popular

Stanley Park Bodywork finishes at the waist-Bur% so that passengers have every possible opportunity for enjoying the scenery and fresh air.

Another popular design is that of other single-deck machines, which have curved glass panels at the cant-rail level and sliding roof panels. A smart green and cream livery is adopted. To facilitate speedy loading and unload ing, double central entrances are in general use.

A further interesting feature of the extraordinary summer demands lies in the ability of the engineering department to deal with all overhaul and similar work during the slack months. During the season, of course, intensive maintenance is necessary, but the vehicles can be spared only for essential repairs.

Under the system adopted the passenger and general transport department is linked with an engineering department, which also assists in other borough activities. In this manner, it is convenient to absorb, on other duties, those members of the staff who, for the time being, are not working at full pressure on transport matters,. Incidentally, this section includes a modern foundry where, among other things, they make the smart passenger shelters that are to be seen in the borough.

For the year ended March 31, 1938, the total revenue from motorbuses was :6212,5[2. During that period 33,163,996 passengers were carried at an average fare of 1.54d. The highest number of passengers carried in any single day was 201,051, and the greatest number of bus miles run in a day was 18,962, Traffic income was 10.8d. per mile, with a working expenditure of 7.79d., or 71.98 per cent.

As is generally understood, appreciable improvement in services will usually result in diminished revenue and expenses per mile, as compared with a time when facilities are limited, This tendency can be seen in the case of Blackpool where, in 1933 (when the fleet numbered 58), the revenue per mile was 12.13d. with expenses of 11.46d. In the interim, there has been extensive reorganization so that, although revenue has fallen by 1.33d., there has been a drop of no less than 3.67d. in the expenses. Over the same period, a loss of £9,585 (in 1933) on the bus undertaking has been turned into a profit of £24,450 (in 1938).

Increases in the cost of labour, petrol and oil, have been considerable, while Mr. Walter Luff, manager of the undertaking has been carrying out his programme, but there has not been any displacement of employees. In fact, they all now enjoy 12 days holiday per annum with pay, against six days in 1933.

Naturally, the hours of duty of workers in the holiday " industry " are different from the usual, so that Blackpool makes considerable latitude in the issue of workpeople's tickets, so long as the passenger possesses an appropriate certificate. Subject to this proviso, half-fares are allowed no to 9 a.m., from noon to 2.30 p.m., and from 4.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Ordinary fares represent an average of a penny a mile so that workmen's tickets cost a halfpenny a mile, whilst children, travelling to or from school or clinic, pay, only a halfpenny for the normal twopenny stages.

Visitors ordinarily desire to spend as much of the day as possible in the open and, as the borough is of considerable size, they must have transport if they are even to sample the variety of attractions offered. Breakfast over, they are on the buses so soon as the early business journeys are done,

.8/ that the flow of traffic is. relatively steady throughout the day. This state of affairs is a valuable factor in

oid in g spread-over duties. "

The existence of a transport system is obvious, but in the case of 'visitors, who do not know where to go— and many just do not—the destination must be " sold to them before they will decide to ride, so that wide use is made of pictorial posters which greet the holidaymaker at many a strategic point.

Mention has already been made of the attractive shelters, and it is interesting to learn that already their capital cost represents over £10,000. The department claims to maintain more shelters than any other undertaking in the country.

Extensive n e w offices.

were built at Rigby Road, during 1938, and a new bus station has recently been opened at Talbot Road, adjacent to Blackpool North railway station. This new covered bus station will accommodate a large number of buses—including double-deckers--and is used both by the corporation and private Operators. Several stories above the station are devoted to car parking, accommodation for 1.000 machines being available.

Blackpool's municipal authorities have spared neither trouble nor expense in making the borough services both attractive and efficient. Following the fiveyear period of development the bus system can more than hold its own in the affairs of the town.


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