Goods Vehicles at London Coach Stations
Page 60
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1/ ETAILS are now available of the proposal, mentioned in our issue dated August 9th, to accommodate goods vehicles at the London Terminal Coach Station, Clapham Road, S.W.9, and at the Central London (Road Transport) Station, Cartwright Gardens, W.C.1.
There is space for about 150 vehicles at each station and regular garage accommodation could be arranged for about 50 lorries. At the London Terminal premises there is an India tyreservice depot and at both stations tyres, petrol, oil and other supplies are available, whilst repairs can also be effected. In addition, offices can be provided at low rentals and a day and night telephone service is in force.
Under the scheme to accommodate goods vehicles at these stations, the object is to attract primarily the regularservice long-distance operators and to act as main London agents for them, securing loads and collecting accounts on a commission basis. Out rates of any description would not be countenanced.'
The proprietors of the stations are prepared to adapt their premises to meet any reasonable requirement of a goodsvehicle operator, so long as there is a
good prospect of a return on expenditure, and are willing to consider any proposal making for smooth working. If adequate support be obtained, loading bays will be erected.
The two organizations have excellent publicity mediums amongst the most important being their 1,000 agents in London and suburbs, at whose premises posters and advertising literature relative to goods-transport services could be displayed.
In addition, time-tables could be drawn up, as in the case of the coach services using the stations, and circulated free of charge to the public, the cost of production being shared by the operators concerned. In the case of the passenger time-tables, the cost to each operator is small and there seems to be no reason why it should be greater for a goods-carrying concern.
The premises are excellently situated and are of attractive appearance, two factors of great importance to operators. The scheme appears to possess considerable possibilities and Mr. W. Featonby, the general manager of Coach Travels, Ltd., the proprietary concern of the London Terminal station, wishes to obtain operators' views on the subject.