Operating Aspects of
Page 55
Page 56
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
PASSENGER TRANSPORT
BOARD FOR STOKE?
STOKE-ON-TRENT City Council's desire for a municipal bus 'service has . . taken another tint with the appoint
ment of a special sub-committee by the general purposes committee to consider another aspect of the rriatter-the formation of a North, Staffordshire Passenger'Transport Board on the lines of the• London and Belfast Transport Boards.
This sub-committee has been instructed not only to Continue negotiations With the Associated Bus Companies, Ltd., but to approach other local authorities in the areato disenss the proposition of a passenger trans port board. • • Mr. Arthur Collins, the city council's financial expert, is understood to have urged the promotion of a Parliamentary Bill for the acquisition of the buses which the council requires. The authority is, however, now considering the whole question of transport facilities in the district, and with this end in view, attempts are being made to obtain conferences during the next two or three weeks with all operators in the district and with the local authorities.
Other councils in North Staffordshire are keenly interested in the proposal for a board. For this reason the city council will consult them before steps are taken either in the acquisition of one operator's business or the setting up of a board.
CONTRACT WORK ADVOCATED.
ASUGGESTION that proposed coach services should be run on a contract basis was made by a railway ad,vocate, when A. Christy (Bolton), Ltd., Bolton, applied to the NorthWestern Traffic Commissioners for the renewal of a licence for an express service from Bolton to Manchester. The service caters particularly for Bolton residents who wish to travel to Manchester in the evening for amusement.
Application was made for a variation to enable the service to be run to a boxing stadium. Mr. G. H. P. Beames, for the L.M.S. Railway Co., submitted that, if Bolton residents were sufficiently interested in the boxing contests at Manchester, they could make up parties and employ the Christy concern on a contract basis.
For the Lancashire United Transport Co., Ltd., it was pointed out that the Commissioners had, in 1932, granted licences for operators to continue as in the past. Since that day they had been seeking a little extra latitude, and there would be no end to this process, unless the Commissioners ruled that no further modifications would be allowed.
The licence was renewed without variation.
TROLLEYBUS HUSTLE.
MO time is to be lost by Newcastle1 Ion-Tyne City Council in introducing further trolleybuses on routes at present served by tramcars. Immediate steps are being taken to apply to the Ministry of Transport for permission to make the change-over. Already tenders are being obtained for supplying the trolleybuses.
NEW LEICESTER DEAL.
AS from last week, Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., has acquired the services of Messrs. H. Fowkes and Sons, lbstock, and operating from Ibstock to Leicester, Coalville and Heather.
BID TO CUT FARES
r-IN the ground that the application, Lid granted, would cause uneconomic and wasteful competition, the L.M.S. and L.N.E. Railway Companies successfully opposed an application by Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., for the modification of contract-ticket prices.
Mr, H. Bottomley, for the Ribble concern, said that the application was to reduce the price of contract tickets on all services in the Northern Area, except in places where local services operated and contract tickets 'Were not issued. This was not a desire on the part of. the " Ribble " to undercut its competitors, but the application was made to meet the friendly representations of South Westmorland Rural District Council, which contended that the rates were too high.
Mr. Bottomley added that the number of contract tickets in the Northern Area was very limited. It was estimated there were only 76 contract-ticket holders, and the total revenue from this source was £1,000 Per annum.
Mr. Bottomley, replying to Mr. Philip Kershaw, for the railways, pointed out that rather than have continuous complaints, the Ribble concern was prepared to reduce rates. He agreed that the application, if granted, might take away some of the railways' contract-ticket traffic.
Mr. Kershaw submitted that if the application were granted, other bus companies would make similar applications.
The application was refused.
PROGRESS IN TOUR FIELD.
IT was not until early in 1935 that Hants and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., took an active interest in excursions and tours, but since that date it has made remarkable progress in this direction. This fact was mentioned at the first annual dinner of the Royal Blue Social Club. ,
In January, 1935, the Hants and Dorset concern took over the excursion and tour side of Elliott Brothers (Bournemouth), Ltd., and has since acquired five other similar businesses on the South Coast.
SHOULD DEPUTY REHEAR CASE?
DCRING the inquiry, when the L.N.E. Railway Co. appealed against conditions attached to a licence granting to the Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., certain additional journeys between Nottingham and Skegness, counsel for the railway company criticized the manner in which the proceedings before the East Midland Commissioners had been conducted.
In announcing his decision on this appeal the Minister of Transport has given close consideration to this submission and he has no hesitation in accepting the views expressed by Sir Henry Wynne in his report. In Sir Henry's opinion, the request that on anyrehearing before the Commissioners, a. deputy should be appointed in place of the chairman, should not be adopted.
He is quite satisfied that Mr. J. H. Stirk, chairman, will not allow himself to be influenced by comments that have been made. His recommendation that the case be referred back for rehearing has been accepted by the Minister.
MERSEY TUNNEL BUS QUESTION AGAIN. •
MEXT Wednesday and Thursday, the
North-Western Traffic Commissioners will again consider the vexed question of bus operation through Mersey Tunnel. The hearing will be resumed of the joint application by Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., and Grosyule Motor Services, Ltd.', for permission to run buses from Southport to Chester, via the Tunnel.
L.M.S. LOSES CO-ORDINATION APPEAL.
THE Minister of Transport has announced his decision in the appeal of the L.M.S. Railway Co, against a grant to the Birmingham and Midland Omnibus Co., Ltd., and backings to Majestic Express Motors, Ltd., and the North-Western Road Car Co., Ltd.
The applications concerned were granted in connection with a scheme of co-ordination. They referred to an additional timing at Birmingham on the companies' services between Man cheater and London during the period from July 3 to September 13, 1936. The Minister upheld the decision of the West Midland Commissioners and costs were awarded against the railway.
500 MtTNICIPAL TAXICABS?
ASCHEME for the introduction of a fleet of 500 municipal taxicabs has been devised by ex-Bailie William Reid, sub-convenor of Glasgow Transport Committee. The idea appears to be to charge about 4d. per mile.
MEN'S GRIEVANCES TO GO TO INDUSTRIAL COURT.
GRIEVANCES of bus conductors employed by the Caledonian Omnibus Co., Ltd., Dumfries, are to be referred to the Industrial Court. A ligkining strike occurred last week, but the men soon returm 1 to duty. Among other things, they seek higher wages.
BIG LONDON STRIKE.
UNOFFICIAL strike action was taken by some 1,600 busmen on Wednesday, as a result of the introduction of new winter traffic schedules by London Transport. At -the time of closing for press, about 665 buses on "29 routes were affected.
COUNCILS' SUPPORT OF NO AVAIL
THE Yorkshire Traffic Commis! sioners' refusal to grant Mr. G. Mosby, of Kippax, a licence to run a new Friday-to-Monday daily stage service between Castleford and Wetherba,-, via the Great North Road, was the subject of an appeal by Mr. Mosby. •
When the application was before the Commissioners it was supported by the councils of Castleford and Wetherby, by the local authorities en route, and Focal inhabitants. It was stated that the major portion of the proposed route was not served by any other operator.
The appellant, one of the oldest operators in the Castleford district, submitted that he had proved public demand for the proposed service, and it was pointed out that he had offered a modification of the service to meet the objectors.
The appeal was opposed by the Kippax Motor Co., I --ssrs. Guy's Services, West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., and railway interests.
APPLICATION—APPEAL-ARBITRATION? -r-IE question of the future of the
Evington (Leicester) bus service, which has been the subject of a lengthy hearing by the East Midland Traffic Commissioners in January last, and of an appeal, may yet provide the subject for arbitration.
The service, with others, is at present operated by Mr. H. T. Errington, an independent operator, whom the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., wished to buy • out. Leicester Corporation, however, obtained the right from the Commissioners—and this was confirmed on appeal—to operate a Leicester-Evington service as from the date when Mr. Errington gives up the service.
The "Midland Red" concern was authorized to operate other routes at present worked by Mr. Errington.
Both the corporation and the company have since been negotiating for the purchase of the service, but, sdi far, no agreement has beenreached on. the price.