The Malta Motor Omnibus Service.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 6, 2 April 1906, Page 146

The Malta Motor Omnibus Service.

The Malta Motor Omnibus and Transport Syndicate, Ltd., was formed some time ago, and has'its headquarters at Valetta The company own four double-deck 24-h.p. 38-passenger vehicles, one single-deck 20-h.p. 18-passenger vehicle, and a lorry, all built by Messrs. John I. Thornycroft & Co , Ltd , of Cluswick and Basmgstoke. The 'buses run from Valetta to St. Julians, a distance of five miles,

and the return journey is made three times in the morning and six times in the afternoon. Four 'buses are in use daily, running in shifts, averaging from nine to twelve hours each. The vehicles run about 360 miles per day, making a mileage for the year of 300 working days of 48,000. It will thus be seen that each 'bus runs about 90 miles per day. The average number of stoppages on each journey is about fifteen. The number of men employed in the garage are three to attend to the

engines and repairs of cars, etc., and four fatigue men. Two are employed on each vehicle, the drivers at a wage of 28s. per week and the conductorsat 2 is. per week. The number of passengers carried daily per 'busis between 200 and 300. The 'buses are running very satisfactorily, four being m service at a time while the remaining one is kept in reserve. The |buses are fitted with Shrewsbury and Challiner " Worlds " tyres, singles being fitted to the front wheels and twin tyres to the rear wheels. Pratt's motor spirit is the fuel consumed, one gallon being used every five miles. This makes a daily consumption of 72 gallons for the four 'buses. "So far as the cost of tyre renewals is concerned, the service has not been running long enough for this to be ascertained yet.