Road Problems Hinder Tram Replacement at Cardiff
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rOMPLETE conversion of the Cardiff tram system 'to motorbus a.nd trolleYbus working depends not so much on the transport department as on the. city surveyor's staff. Cardiff has several low railway 'bridges and to enable covered-top double-deck trams to pass under them the cars were specially built with small wheels and low platforms. It is not possible, however, to get the new trolleybuses tinder the bridges in Queen Street and Bore St reet.
In the latter case, where the roadway cannot he further dropped without a risk of flooding, single-deck trolleybuses are being used and a shuttle service runs between Hayes Bridge arid the Pier Head. There are seven single-deck
vehicles in stock at present and five more are on order.
It is essential to work double-deckers along Queen Street and the roadway there will be dropped 15 ins. This, however, cannot be done while the tram service is running. To reduce inconvenience to the public during the reconstruction, a disused tram route via Glossop Terrace, Moira Terrace, Adam Street, Bute Terrace and Custom House Street will he brought into use, but at one point the track will have to be restored before the services are diverted.
The two remaining tram services 'which will use these roads are those from Whitchurch Road and Roath Park, which at present enter the city centre via Working Street and go out along Si. Mary's Street or vice versa. Twenty-five cars are still required for these. services.
Eventually, public passenger vehicles will be diverted from Working Street altogether, as it isf,the intention to work the trolleybuses along the reconstructed Pembroke Street instead.
The trams which have been withdrawn from the Newport Road and Roath Dock (Splott) routes have been replaced by motorbuses, instead of by trolleybuses, but in course.of time it is expected that electric vehicles will he put on.
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Looking ahead some years, it is possiblethat trolleybuses will eventually run all the way from the city boundary at Ely on the west to Rummy on the east, but this and other extensions to points on the boundary are, to some extent, linked with the council's policy
on the flat fare. .
Cardiff has for some 'years operated the trams and the replacing motorbuses Or trolleybuses on a flat fare of Id. for any distance. This is paid on entering: no tickets are issued, as the passenger, under the conductor's eye, pills his penny in a slot. Because of rising costs, the flat fare is being increased to lid.
As long as a flat fare is in existence, cross-city working is almost automatically barred, as the undertaking could not afford to carry passengers the full distance at a figure that would be fair to those on the shorter journeys.
The six-wheeled trolleybuses now adopted as standard in Cardiff, seat 67 passengers (as compared with 64 on the four-wheeled-trams) and are distinctive not only in having front exits and rear entrances, but in providing the conductor with a seat in a recess on the rear platform,
LORRY DID NOT STOP 'I IN a collision on the Lea Valley 1 Viaduct (North Circular Road), London, at 5.15 p.m. on January 7, a.lorry, which did not stop, caused extensive damage to the car of Mr. R. G. Mair, of George Ewer and Co., Ltd. The lorry pulled out to overtake a moving bus and struck the car, which was travelling in the opposite direction. A reward is offered for information • that will enable the lorry to be identified. Mr. Mair's address is 13. Holly Drive, Chingford, London, E.4.
OLD BATTERIES SOLD AS NEW
UNUSED Exide ex-W.D. batteries are being offered for sale. as new at much reduced prices. states the Chloride Electrical Storage Co., Ltd. These batteries left the works at least three Years ago, and 'the company disclaims responsibility for their perfOrrnance or life.