Operating Aspects of
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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
SUMMONED FOR SMOKING AT THE WHEEL
WHAT was stated to be the first case W of its kind in Portland was heard at the local police court, last week, when a driver was summoned for smoking a cigarette while driving a public service vehicle.
The traffic examiner for the Western Area told the Court that he boarded a "Southern National" bus at Easton, and observed that the driver was smoking. This meant that on three or four occasions he had but one hand available for steering. When the bus stopped witness went to the driver, who said he was sorry. Witness-added that prosecutions of that kind were brought entirely in the interests of public safety.
In a letter to the Bench defendant said: "I lit a cigarette at the bus stop and forgot to put it out. The action was mechanical. I have _held a clean driving licence since 1914. I have already been punished by the company. for the offence, by being suspended."
The chairman said that, in view of all the circumstances, the case would be dismissed under the Probation of Offenders' Act.
CHILDREN'S FARES REVISION IN SOUTH SHIELDS.
AA REPORT by the transport manatiger, Mr. H. J. Troughton, in connection with the revision of fares and the removal of certain anomalies, has been adopted by South Shields Transport Committee. The proposals include
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lower fares for workmen, and the standardization of children's fares. At present, children are allowed at half fare up to the age of 14 years on motorbuses, whilst on trolleybuses and tramcars the limit is 12 years. In 'future the limit will be 14 years.
PLYMOUTH TO HAVE A FIVE-YEAR PLAN?
ALL-METAL bodies, hydraulic transmission and stabilizers designed to keep the vehicle steady when rounding corners, are features of '20 double-deck buses ordered by Plymouth Corporation. These vehicles will form part of the undertaking's normal replacement programme, and application is to be made to the Ministry of Transport for sanction to borrow £49,000 for the purchase.
The transport committee is giving consideration to a five-year programme in which £304,000 is allocated for the provision of new buses to replace existing equipment. The revenue account for the half-year ended September 30. shows an increase in tram and bus receipts of nearly £10,000.
TAXICABS AND THIRDPARTY INSURANCE
ALL taxicabs licensed in the Metropolitan Police area will, within the next few weeks, have to display a certificate of insurance to show that the owner is covered against third-party risks.
For once in a way it is a regulation which will be welcomed by the drivers, for it has been brought about as the result of representations made by the taxicab section of the Transport and General Workers' Union.
These representations were made following prosecutions brought against taxi drivers, who, quite unwittingly, have been driving cabs not covered in respect of third-party risks. This, of course, can be revealed only following an accident, in which event drivers can be, and have been, suspended.
BRITISH OILERS FOR BUS WORK IN HONG KONG.
VULCAN Motors, Ltd., Victoria Works, Maidstone, is just completing an order for 12 single-deck passenger chassis, recently received from the China Bus Co., Hong Kong. These chassis are fitted with Gardner 5LW oil engines, whilst the bodies will be constructed in Hong Kong and will have a seating capacity for 25 persons, plus room for a number of standing passengers. The reason for the company stipulating the use of an engine with the power of the 5L1,V is the hilly nature of the rcutes over which these vehicles will operate. In some cases there are long inclines of 1 in 12, with the last portion increasing to 1 in 7, and the hills have many S bends.
The China Bus Co. is already operating a number of Vulcan petrolengined passenger vehicles and it is understood they are standing up well under the arduous conditions.
NORWICH ACQUIRES BUSES FOR A.R.P.
AN offer of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., to sell to Norwich Corporation eight old buses for conversion into A.R.P. ambulances, has been accepted. The price to be paid is £25 each; the necessary work to carry out the conversion is estimated to cost only £2 10s. per machine.
BRITISH TROLLEYBUSES FOR CANADA.
Ithe face of fierce American competition. Leyland Motors, Ltd., has been successful in securing an order for three six-wheeled single-decktrolleybuses from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, which, hitherto, has had a transport system operated by trams and motorbuses. Severe' climatic conditions—it is not uncommon for the city to have temperatures well below freezing point —and the city's hilly routes, which in Some parts are 1 in 10, have necessitated special equipment for the machines.
Sanding equipment is to be installed in each bus, with a pneumatic ejector in front of all four driving wheels. A sand discharger behind the wheelsand a run-back preventer, similar to those fitted on some of the Leyland buses operated by London Transport will be provided.
The specification includes left-hand steering, G.E.C. equipment with a 135 h.p. motor and limited regenerative control, low-voltage interior lighting and Westinghouse brakes.
The Park Royal Coach Works, Ltd., is to manufacture the bodies, which will incorporate treadle-operated pneumaticdoor gear and special heating arrangements. Each body will have seating accommodation for 38 passengers and will be 8 ft. 3 ins, in width to provide a wide gangway for standing passengers.
It is also interesting to note that the ASsociated Equipment Co., Ltd., is supplying three A.E.C.-English Electric vehicles of a similar type, for use in the same Canadian city.
MORE OILERS FOR L.P.T.B.
ONDON Transport has placed a conL.atract with the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., for 167 Regent oil-engined double-deck buses. This follows a contract placed only a month ago for 115 vehicles of a similar type.
LABOUR MANIFESTO ON BRADFORD'S TRANSPORT.
lkAUNICIPAL transport, in Bradford, infigures as a topic in the Bradford Labour Party's municipal-elections campaign. Labour candidates take the line that there should be an inquiry, with all the political parties and the public represented, with the object of finding out which of the three types of transport operated by the corporation —trams, trolleybuses and motorbuses, is the most advantageous for the city.
Mr. E. A. Busby, a Labour councillor seeking re-election: stated at an election meeting last week : "Let us have a public inquiry with all the evidence, so that we can make a fair decision."
BUYERS OF BRUSH BODIES.
AN order for seven single-deck bus bodies has been received by the Brush Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd., Falcon Works, Loughborough, through the British Electrical Federation, Ltd., these being for the South Wales Transport Co., and representing the third repeat order for bodies of a similar design. The type chosen is of the front'. entrance. single-deck pattern, and of Brush composite construction.
The bodies-39-seaters—are to be mounted on A.E.C. Renown six-wheeled chassis. The seats will be of the tubular pattern with chromium-plated top rails, and the squabs will be upholstered in a combination of blue moquette and leather. The cushions are to have Dunlopillo fillings, and the back squabs will be filled with rubberized hair. Rawlings "On Guard 'S half-drop windows will also figure amongst the equipment.
L.P.T.B. OUTGOINGS EXCEED RECEIPTS
Tfifth annual report and accounts of the London Passenger Transport Board, for the year ended June 30, are to hand as we go to press and will be dealt with at length in our issue for next week.
In respect of passenger receipts the sum of £30,758,000 for the year 19371938 showed an increase of 13.3 per cent: over 1933-1934, which is given for comparison. Against this. outgoings showed considerable increases. Wages and salaries at £16,705,000 were 16.1 per cent. up, rates, taxes, licences, duties, etc. (£2,770,000) 11,1 per cent., electric current, petrol and other fuel (£1,713,000) 28 per cent., and total working expenses (£24,923,000)15.5 per cent.
Buses and coaches. carried 58 per cent. of the total traffic, trams 19 per cent., and trolleybuses 10 per cent.
. During the past five years, nearly 3,000 new buses and coaches have been put into service to replace the older types of vehicle. Up to the end of June last, 138 miles of tram routes had been converted to trolleybus operation and at tnat date More than one-third of the 2,629 trams, taken over by the Board had been replaced.
The total net revenue for 1937-1938, available for interest on the Board's stocks and other capital charges, was £5,265,034, an increase over 1933-1934 of £308,343.
The average rate of interest paid on all the Board's stock is a fraction more than 41 per cent. The amount paid in respe.7.t of interest on the C stocks is £1,027,952 or 4 per cent, for the year.
FINED FOR RETAINING P.S.V. BADGE.
THE necessity of bus drivers return1 Mg to the Traffic Commissioners the badges issued to them was stressed at Wishaw Police Court, last week, when a driver denied a charge of retaining his badge. The defendant said he had applied for a licence to drive a doubledeck bus. He had passed the test and had sent in his application for his licence to be endorsed accordingly. He had received no reply from the Traffic Commissioners' office. Accused was found guilty and fined 5s.
FARES REDUCTION REFUSED IN SOUTHAMPTON.
MFFIC Commissioners for the area e refused to allow Southampton Corporation to reduce fares. Mr. P. J. Baker, transport manager, applied for Id. and 2d. fares for single and return journeys respectively, on the WoolstonWeston Shore stage, the present fares being 2d. and 3d.
Whilst the Commissioners agiee that the fare is relatively high, they refuse the suggested reductions on the grounds that traffic on this route is of the holiday, or seasonal type, and that it is not opportune to consider reductions.