Buses May D aw Luggage Trailers
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BUS operators in districts wher railway services are withdrawn ar to be allowed to tow luggage trailer behind their vehicles, if proposals no under consideration by the Minister ol Transport are approved.
The Ministry has writtentoorganizations affected, asking for their ccmrnents on a .proposal to amend the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1955 to permit the drawing of trailers by public service vehicles under certain circumstances.
In addition to removing obthe way of bus operators carryin passen gers' luggage, the amendment will be designed to facilitate the transport of airline passengers and their baggage -)etween airports and town terminals and to expedite loading of baggage on to aircraft, It is expected that use may also 4e made of the provision for certain spe ial purposes, such as the carriage of Skis for winter sports.
At the same time it is pro seri to amend the Road and Rail TraT1c Act (Exemption) Regulations 1957, so that trailers drawn by public service vehicles
under the new provision will not need a carrier's licence issued separately.
The application form for road service licences will be .amended to provide space for applicants to indicate that they wish a licence to include drawing of trailers; Traffic Commissioners will make this fact known in "Notices and Proceedings ".
Trailers to be towed behind buses will have to be of a type approved by a certifying officer for each particular bus model, and towing gear will similarly require approval.
To ensure uniformity amongst certifying officers on the question of type approval, the Minister will issue a technical memorandum setting out the general lines to be followed, and a draft of this is to be circulated for comment shortly.
Unless further amendments are made, buses towing trailers will be limited to 30 m.p.h.
Coaches Into London; A brochure entitled " Your Private Coach Party to London " has been published by the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association to give guidance on the restrictions and parking arrangements applicable tocoaches running contract carriage trips into London.