BUSES RATHER THAN TROLLEY BUSES

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5301, 14 January 1947, Page 2

BUSES RATHER THAN TROLLEY BUSES

LONDON TRANSPORT BOARD'S DECISION London Amplifying the a'nnouncement ' that Loildon's remaining trams are being scapped in favour of fueldriven buses, an official of the London Transport Board said ihe safety of passengers and their cqmfort, together with thfe speed and • resilience in handling of buses, were the deciding factors in causing the board to agree finally to replace all trams with buses, rather than trolley buses. This was a step similar to those being taken in progressive cities in other parts of the '■ world. Scrapping the trams — now running mainly on routes south tof the Thames — would mean the complete ' abolition of the tram system in the vast area of London under the control of the London Transport Board, the official continued. A two-year programme for their elimination was being worked out. The change-over would effect nearly 750,000 passengers, now using the 730 trams in service. It was planned to begin the work as soon as supplies were available. At present the shortage of steel was holding up production of all tyyes of motor vehicles and buses to replace trams. No More Hold-ups Hold-ups caused by trams having to cut across the main traffic routes along the Thames Embankment to reach the Kingsway tunnel would be abolished. - The Transport Board was given statutory powers in 1935 to replace trams with trolley buses, but recent discussions among the chief executives had resulted in the decision to use fuel vehicles instead. "During the past few months we have been sounding local authorities in areas served by trams and other representative bodies to ascertain the public's views," the official said. :Having heard their views, we have made the decision. "We expect a big speed-up in the flow of traffic at certain key points. "Deciding facTors were: — "To gie passengers greater comfort by bus riding instead of tram riding. "To give speedier and more effi:ient transport. "To give greater protection from foad accidents — it is safer and easier for passengers to board and leave buses at the pavement instead ofiashing- through the traffic to the 'sramline. "Resilience in the use of buses on all sorts of roads — this is a factor, too, in preferring fuel-driven buses to trolley buses, after our wartime experience when buses could be diverted to all sorts of routes, but trams and trolley buses had to sticlc to defined areas. "Our inqttiries showed that most people do not like trams."