(a) Traffic Receipts to 30.9.56. shown on Appendix "A" attached.
(b) Number of units required to operate scheme. To be included in revision of requirements of units (see minute 462. 3(b))
(c) Proposed pruning of unprofitable parts of scheme during winter. Mr.Read reported that this question is well in hand with the Bus Companies at district level.
2. Watford - St.Albans
(a) Traffic receipts to 30.9.56. See Appendix "A" attached.
(b) Costs of operation. The Chairman referred to the figures shown below which has been produced to give comparisons between the costs under normal conditions of the present A.C.V. unit service, the previous steam service and the costs if service were covered by standard units.-
Steam
Service.
Diesel Service.
A.C.V.Light weight units.
B.U.T. stan- dard units.
Annual estimated variable
cost of operation.
£44,547
£26,128
£26,625
Annual Train Miles.
156,966
185,251
185,251
Annual Seat Miles.
-
20,377,610
24,082,630
Cost per train mile.
68.11d.
33.85d.
34.49d.
Cost per seat mile.
-
.3077d.
.2653d.
It was noted that there has been a considerable improvement in the availability of the units during the past five months, and it was agreed that no further action be taken at present in respect of the displacement of the A.C.V. units from this branch.
(c) Condition of permanent way. Mr.Butland said that one mile of track with concrete sleepers has been selected for long-welding, but it will be necessary to re-rail before the welding can be done. The Chairman requested that a quick decision be given on the one mile experiment so that this should not delay the line as a whole being dealt with.
