TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENTS IN LANCASHIRE.
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An Attempt to Organize Regular Services for Passenger and Goods Traffic.
SWIFT FLEET MOTORS, of Manchester, have for some time been engaged in passenger and goods haulage by motor vehicles, and last year they had a number of ehars-asbancs milling to Blackpool and other popular resorts of Mancunian holiday makers. The directors have been keeping a watchfuL eye during this period on the possibilities of further osaiiization and development, and this yeir they have launched out on an ambitious scheme to provide a regular service for passengers and goods haulage, which will afford the maximum of convenience and reliability.
During the present season up-to-date services of passenger vehicles are being run daily between Manchester and Blackpool, Southport, Llandudno, and Harro gate, and other., places. The vehicles run according to time-table, and all seats may be booked in advance (there are 24 booking agents throughout the district), accommodation being provided for a reasonable amount of luggage.
The company have recently purchased a large plot of ground in, Chapel Street, Salford, where a luXurious station willbe provided for the traveller. A restaurant-will ministerto the needs of the inner man; booking offices, cloak rooms, confectionery and newspaper stalls will bes there for his • convenience, and the chars-ii-bancs will thaw upto platforms for him to embark. The company have also obtained an option on a magnificent site in the very heart of Manchester, and, should present plans mature, the passenger station will be placed there with any increased accommodation and conveniences which experience has euggested to the-directors, and the Salford site will be utilized for a goods clearing house and depot.
The passenger side of the business is not the only one, and the company have wisely determined to tackle goods haulage in an ambitious manner. In conversation with Mr. Buck, the managing director,we asked what, in his opinion, was the main failing of haulage by motor ls-10
vehicle at present. The reply Was immediate, "The full service of the lorry is scarcely ever obtained," he said. "A driver goes to pick up a load, and has to wait an hour before he can -get into the dock to obtain it. He may make a call or two on his own account on his journey, and will very likely have to wait an hour or so to unload at the other end. And we have very little check over this at present.
"Another difficulty," he continued, "is the uncertainty of the return load, an important matter if the full services of the -vehicleare to be obtained. By means of eur new scheme we hope to eliminate three-'wastages to a large extent."
. This scheme is as followss—clearing stations for goods are to be established in Manchester, Liverpool, London, Birmingharia, Leeds, and other commercial centres. These depots will have warehouse accommodation, unloading decks and cranes to deal with goods easily and quickly, and a full staff of competent workers. The merchant may deliver his goods at the clearing depot, or the local lorries of the company will call for them and convey them there. Long-distance lorries will run regularly between clearing stations, taking full loads every time, and they will have t9 report, upon arrival at the other end, a cheek thus being kept on their movements. The load will then be distributed by the local lorries of the concern, while the long distance lorry will return with another load. At all the centres
there will be a "speeder " who will keep in touch by means of a car with the local lorries. Knowing what work is to he done, he will' prevent a. lorry waiting three hours at the docks if there is great congestion, and will send the vehicle off on another job first, instructing a lorry to proceed to the docks for the previous job when opportunity (wears. By these means it is hoped to
keep the lorries steadily employed and prevent unnecessary delay. •
At present the company use StrakerSquire and Pagefield chassis for their passenger services and Pierce-Arrow lorries for heavy haulage. Special bodies have been built for the passenger vehicles, which have sliding roofs and detachable side curtains to render them weatherproof at need, while a luggage. compartment is provided at the rear. Electric lighting LS provided inside for the passengers, .as well. as for the lamps:
'Trailers are frequently used with the Pierce-Arrows, and have given every satisfaction, heavy loads having been taken, to Hull and Newcastle-on-Tvne from Manchester without difficulty,
which is certainly an 'exacting test. It will be seen that the company believe in, obtaining the maximum of use from their vehicles, but they are fully alive to -the fact that this entails careful supervision, and every lorry has one day in dock per week for overhaul and attention at the large garage and •works' which the company possess in Salford. It will be seen that the scheme has been carefully thought out, and there is no doubt that it should be a real success, if -carefully organized and efficiently advertised.