TROLLY BUSES TO REPLACE TRAMS

Chronicle (Levin), 10 December 1946, Page 7

TROLLY BUSES TO REPLACE TRAMS

-Press Association

. AUCKLAND'S ; TRANSPORT

By Telegraph-

AUCliEAJND, Dec. 9. Trolly buses to replace the present Auckland transport system, are recomniended in a report by Mr. C. R. Gribble, sfeeretar'y ahd treasurer of the Auckland Transport Board, which was dis-"' eussed in committee at the Board 's meeting. Messrs Gribble and Foster recently returned from a six months' tour- bf America, Canada and Britain, where they investigated transport systeins there. f The report. states that although the tramway service did excellent work during the war, severe loading and shortage of labour and materials liave now made it necessary for the board either to rehabilitate the service or replace it with another forin of transport. Dealing with the first altcrnative, the report states that both in America and England opinion is that trams are obsolete for cities of the size of Auckland. However, if the Board did decide to rehabilitate the tramway system the only modern way would be to purchase a fleet of P.C.C. trams such as, were used in the.larger American cities. The cost of th'e trams and of putting tho tracks into the iirst class condition necessary for successful P.C.C. tram operation, would be extreinelv high. Cqusidering the second alternative, that of a new form of transport, the report states that tliere is no coinxnon trend in England and America. In England the trend 4s to diesel buses while in America, -for cities of Auckland 's size, it is to- trolly buses supplemented by a fleet of motor buses. The type of trolly bus recommended by the report is a 44-seater and capable of carrying over 40 standing passengers. They have a low consumption rate of electricity and would be ideal for Auckland where the price of electfic power is relatiyely low. No other vehicle gives the same excellent service on hilly routes nor can compare with the trolly bus in low inaintenance costs when operated under adverse conditions. "Comp.ared with modern standards the board 's tramway system is out of date, " concluded the report. "The most suitable form of modern transport for Aiickland is trolly buses supplemented by motor buses which. would be used to serve the more sparsely populated areas. "^he Auckland Transport Board should undertake a detailed examination of "the financial considerations involved and if the change is cousidered linancially sound, tlien the carrying out of the report 's recommendations shpuld be .proceeded with as soon as possiblq."- • • *