PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
A MUNICIPAL BUS STATION.
What is Being Done by the Authorities in Middlesbrough in an Effort to Obviate Bus Congestion and Assist the Travelling Public.
THE difficulties elperienced in Middlesbrough in the way of obviating congestion, and thus enabling the travelling public to secure the fullest possible advantage from the increasing volume of motorbus traffic to and from the towa, have already been briefly described in The Commercial Motor, and steps have now been taken to overcome existing obstacles in an eminently practical and satisfactory manner. The corporation, after carefully reviewing the whole position, recently decided upon the establishment of a motorbus station in the heart of the town, and such excellent progress has now been made with the scheme that it is hoped the new station will be available for use in the course of the next month or six weeks.
Similar schemes have been devised in various parts of the north country, and they may possibly be brought to fruition at a future date.
In order to provide a suitable site the Middlesbrough authorities have removed a monument, and a space 100 ft. by 75 ft. has been cleared near the Exchange, practically. in the centre of this go-ahead Teesside township. Corporation employees are now busily engaged in laying three lar,,,e platforms, each 40 ft. long by 8 ft. wide, to deal satisfactorily with the large numbers of travellers regularly availing themselves of the many motorbus routes now radiating from the town. To assist in the regulation of this traffic passage-way railings are to be erected along the centre of each platform.
Vehicles journeying to and from the bus station will travel by definite thoroughfares, which, in some eases, are being widened for the dual purpose of providing for this influx of vehicles and to ensure increased standing space for additional units put into service at busy periods.
Similarly, buses from each district will be given a definite platform, where they will load and unload, in order to prevent congestion or confusion inside the station. The scheme has been prepared
by the borough engineer (Mr. S. E. I3urgess), in co-operation with the chief constable (Mr. H. Riches), and it tbould help to solve the acute situation which has arisen in the town by reason of the steadily increasing use of road services, in preference to the railway, to and from all parts of Co. Durham and adjoining Cleveland neighbourhoods.
With a view to improving the general appearance of the station, it is expected that the corporation will in the near future construct a number of ornamental reinforced concrete shelters for the benefit of waiting passengers. It is not unlikely, too, that, with further traffic increases which can be reasonably expected in the next few years, other stations will be established at convenient points in the shopping area of Middlesbrough.