London's Experimental " Pay.as-you-board " Trolleybus
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TO obtain experience in the application of the principle of " pay-asyou-board " to trolleybus operation, an experimental vehicle has been put into service by London Transport. This trolleybus has a single entrance and exit, slightly forward of the centre of the vehicle, which is enclosed by a double sliding door pneumatically operated by the conductor. Accommodation is provided for 69 seated pas
sengers, 40 in the upper saloon and 29 on the lower deck, but, should it be desired, the design could be made to seat 70 passengers.
The equipment for the collection of fares by the conductor consists of a pay-desk, complete with cashbox, located at the foot of the stairway, in Such a position that passengers can board in two streams. On the right Of the desk are the push-button controls,
which the conductor uses for operating the doore; these controls are duplicated in the cab, so that the driver can also open or close the doors if desired. The whole layout is designed for the speedy collection of fares. Provision has been made for accommodating approximately 12 standing passengers just inside the deorway, so as to allow the issuing of tickets by the conductor after the _doors are closed and the trolleybus is under way.
A special feature, necessitated by the central position of the pay-desk on the lower deck, 'is a double-vision periscope Which allows the conductor at his set position at thepay-desk to take observeion both forward and rear of the upper deck. This is a feature which should save both passengers and conductors considerable inconvenience, as the nUniber of seats occupied on the 'diver deck can readily be seen by the conductor. .
The first trolleybus of this type was placed in ,service on Route 604 on March 15, and is operating between Hampton Court . and Wimbledon, via leaynes Park, New Malden. and Kingston. The trolleybus is distinguishable by a special light illuminating a " payas-you-board " notice at the top of the window • forward of the sliding door, whilst the wording is repeated at other points On the near side of the vehicle.
This is the second central-entrance bus being tried'. out by London Trans-port, the other being an internal-combustion-engined vehicle now operating on Route 65.