Glasgow Transport sub-standard, says manager

20th June 1969, Page 197

20th June 1969

Page 197

Page 197, 20th June 1969 — Glasgow Transport sub-standard, says manager

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• Glasgow Corporation transport—Scotland's largest municipal transport undertaking is sub-standard in its service to the public, Mr. E. R. L. Fitzpayne, general manager, says in his annual report.

"It is depressing to have to refer once again in an annual report to the inability of the department to provide a service the quality of which is other than sub.-standard by reason of the twin problems of traffic congestion and undermanning,he says.

Referring to the disruption of services, he says the worst case involved a bus which took 66 minutes to travel one mile through the centre of the city, from Charing Cross to Argyle St. during the peak period.

Mr. Fitzpayne says the difficulties encountered by passengers led to them taking trans port employees to task for delays they were in no way responsible for and for which they had no remedy.

He believes this is one of the reasons why the department is losing staff. The shortage of drivers in individual garages was as high as 32 per cent and of conductors 21 per cent.

"Remedies for both congestion and staff shortage are being actively sought, mainly through traffic engineering measures on the one hand and improved wages and conditions on the other." he sa ys.

The report shows an accumulated deficit of £1,291,846 and a deficit for the year of £481,075.

Total staff for the year 1967-68 was 7,095, compared with 12,944 in 1947. The number of passengers carried fell by 16,938,600 during 1967-68 to 374,725,204.