"Expand Glasgow's Trolleybus Services"
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THE development of trolleybus services is advocated by Mr. E. R. L. Fitzpayne, general manager of Glasgow Transport Department, in his annual
report. Recent installation work at Pinkston power station had cost £2m. and "in consequence we cannot think lightly of abandoning electric traction," he states. • The electrical system had been planned to deal with traffic loads of 40,000 kW. or more. Reductions in. output would menace the cost of current produced and therefore the trolleybus network should be extended.
Financial stability had not yet been
attained by the department. Wage increases granted during the year represented an additional annual cost of £244,100. Finances were on a knife edge and it required only one further twist of the inflationary spiral to offset any future surplus, with the consequent necessity of an increase in fares.
The best means for controlling cost was to maintain the average speed of vehicles. The increasing number of private cars was paralyzing the centre of the city and as the output of cars rose, it would become essential for all large cities to epntrol their presence in the centres. Collisions also entailed a "very serious" drain on financial resources.