Luggage Trailer in Prototype Service
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vXPERIENCE is being gained by BEA from the operation on actual passenger service of the Routemaster; luggage trailer combination first demonstrated to the Minister of Transport last year. This is a prototype of units to be introduced next year to replace the existing one-and-a-half-deck coaches (The Commercial Motor, April 2).
It is understood that some dispute has arisen as to who should hitch the trailer (driver, or porter) and as to whether the present one-man system with the driver collecting the fares on the return run, or a driver and separate conductor, be employed. The trailer is at present manhandled at each terminal, but a small electric tug will soon be employed.
The bus employed on this service is an experimental vehicle on loan from London Transport; when the new units are introduced the passenger vehicles will be specially built coaches in a new livery.
Photographs show the trailer being loaded, and RMF1254 negotiating "The Feathers" roundabout, Chiswick, on an actual run to the airport this week.