1. Minutes of meeting of Sub-Committee held on
August 25th, 1959
Minute 708.Chester West Motive Power
Depot
Mr.Gould asked for special attention to be given to the provision of
maintenance and fuelling facilities at this depot. It was the intention to
commence the diesel service on the Wrexham - Chester - New Brighton line on the
4th January 1960 and to withdraw the Bidston-Seacombe passenger service on the
same date. The two operations must be concurrent and it was therefore
essential for the facilities at Chester West to be available. M.E.H.Baker
stated that the small depot at Chester West would be ready for maintenance
purposes but not for fuelling, and pressed for fuelling facilities to be
available at Chester Northgate for the commencement of the new
service. Mr.Lambert said he was aware of the urgency and special measures were
in hand.
713. SCHEMES AUTHORISED BUT NOT YET IN
OPERATION
1. St.Pancras Suburban Services
(a) Introduction of Service
Noted that inaugural run took place on September 28th, and until
January 4th, 1960, some off-peak services would be operated by diesel units
working in steam timings. From January 4th a new timetable based on all
diesel working would be introduced. Reference was made to a report on the
general operation of diesel units on this service at the present time, and the
Chairman said Mr.Varley would similarly report at intervals.
(b) Seating accomodation
The Chairman said that the General Manager, during the inaugural run,
had heard several comments on the seating space, with the suggestion that the arm
arrangement of the seats increased the impression of crowding. The Committee
fully discussed the matter an it was the majority view that the arm rests should
remain, but it was agreed that Mr.Arkles's reply to the General Manager's
enquiry should be awaited. It was considered, however, that if a decision
was made to remove the arm rests, this should not be undertaken on present units,
but an experiment might be made on the units to be built for the Marylebone
services, in which case Mr.Randle would require early notification. Mr.Randle
stated that comment has been made regarding the undue softness of the seats, and
this point was under consideration in respect of future stock.
