G.S. No.58/149
MEMORANDUM TO THE COMMISSION
Diesel Rail Buses.
1. The lightweight diesel rail buses are now being utilised for branch line working and this preliminary report is being submitted on the first results of operation. A comprehensive report will be prepared when there has been more experience of their working.
2. The twenty two buses estimated to cost £280,380 have been allocated to the Regions in accordance with the following table:
| Contractor | E. | Sc. | L.M. | W. | Total | Delivered |
| Waggon and Maschinenbau Donauworth | 5 | 5 | 5 | |||
| D. Wickham & Co. Ltd | . | 5 | 5 | - | ||
| A.C. Cars Ltd. | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | ||
| British United Traction Ltd. | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 (3 LM 1 Sc) | ||
| Bristol Commercial Vehicles Ltd. | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||
| 5 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 16 |
3. Sixteen buses have been delivered and eight are being used for the undermentioned regular weekday booked services (in each direction):-
| Previous Steam Services. |
Rail Bus Services. |
||
| Gleneagles - Crieff - Comrie | 7 | 10 | |
| Aviemore - Craigellachie - Elgin | 3 | 3 | |
| Bedford - Hitchin | 4 | 7 | |
| Bedford - Northampton | 5 (7 S.O.) | 9 | |
| Witham - Braintree | ) | ||
| Witham - Malden (East) | ) | No change in steam | |
| Audley End - Bartlow | ) | mileage. | |
| Cambridge - Mildenhall | ) | ||
The Cambridge - Mildenhall service is likely to be withdrawn owing to the large gap between movement costs and earnings.
4. The local branch passenger bookings have increased over the corresponding periods of last year and the comparative figures are:-
| 1958 | 1957 | Increase | |||
| £. | £. | £. | % | ||
| Gleneagles - Crieff - Comrie | September | 116 | 57 | 59 | 104 |
| -do- | October | 90 | 27 | 63 | 233 |
| Aviemore - Craigellachie - Elgin | November | 228 | 108 | 120 | 111 |
| London Midland Branches | October | 1,032 | 439 | 593 | 135 |