London's Transport Problems

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 270, 2 November 1940, Page 7

London's Transport Problems

Exciting Conditions Excite Criticism GETTING READY FOR THE WINTER United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Friday, 8.30 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 31. The London Passenger Transport Board is vigorously tackling the problem of transporting 31 million workers to and from work daily throughout tho winter. Meanwhile the existing transport position has excited criticism in two morning news, papers. The Daily Telegraph urges an improvement ixar the staff work and the Daily Mail urges that the public arc disgusted with the railway and food services. The Transport Board’s plans include more express buses, tho restoration of all coach routes in outey areas, also new bus services parallel with the interrupted railway routes, an eariler peak hour for bus and tube services and mo.ro stations opening during raids. The staff shortage is the board’s principal problem. Nearly a thousand London conductors have been trained as drivers and women have been enrolled as conductorettes, but on calling up 350 women only 20 replied. Passengers are unlikely to require road vehicles after 10 and 11 p.m., therefore it is not intended to run scheduled journeys after those hours. Special buses are running for late workers and the tubes will run later. Happier aspects of Britain’s home front are provided by the anouncement’ that the Transport Board will supply twopenny meals for sheltcrera at 80 tube stations, also that there have been fewer serious crimes in the last three months than since the outbreak of war although looting and pilfering after air raids increased last week. The Ministry of Labour is urgently appealing for the formation of a labour, reserve in each employment exchange area to keep London clear. Their duty will be tho clearing up of debris from air raids and. the saving of property from damaged premises. The Ministry emphasises that more men are still required for the work. It is announced that the normal closing hours for shops from November 17 to March will be 6 p.m. with an extension to 7.30 on one day weekly. Mr. J. C. Patteson, European Manager of the Canadian Pacific Railway on London, has been loaned for four years, to the Ministry of Supply as controller of general transportation.