XN000022-1982-08-24 — Page 3

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THE INVESTIGATION OF SHORT-TERM OPERATING ECONOMIES HAS CONFIRMED THAT KMB'S OPERATIONS ARE ALREADY HIGHLY COST-EFFECTIVE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIES WITHOUT CAUSING INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC ARE VERY FEW. PROPOSALS HAVE NEVERTHELESS BEEN MADE BY THIS SUB-GROUP THAT A NUMBER OF LOW PATRONAGE AND LOSS-MAKING BUS ROUTES COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR CANCELLATION IN THE EVENT THAT ALL MEANS OF RESTORING VIABILITY ARE EXHAUSTED AND THAT ADEQUATE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED. PROPOSALS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE TOWARDS THIS END FOR A REDUCTION IN THE NETWORK OF COACH SERVICES AND FOR SOME REDUCTION IN BUS SERVICES DURING OFF-PEAK PERIODS. TOWARDS AN IMPROVEMENT IN SERVICES, THE SUB-GROUP CONSIDERED THREE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE EXPANSION OPTIONS, 1.E. MINIMUM, MODERATE AND FULL OPTIONS, RANGING FROM A LOW OF 1 709 BUSES IN DAILY OPERATION TO A HIGH OF 1 957 BUSES IN DAILY OPERATION UP TO THE END OF 1983. IN TERMS OF LEVEL OF SERVICE, THESE OPTIONS RANGE FROM THAT OF NO CHANGE IN PRESENT PEAK TRAVELLING CONDITIONS TO A PEAK CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT OF THE ORDER OF 20 PER CENT.

HAVING REGARD TO ALL THE RELEVANT CONSIDERATIONS, THE SUB-GROUP RECOMMENDED THAT THE MODERATE RDP OPTION SHOULD BE ADOPTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 1982 AND 1983, WITH THE OPTION OF PROGRESSING TO THE HIGH RDP IF ADDITIONAL SAVINGS IN THE BUS OPERATIONS COULD BE IDENTIFIED ELSEWHERE.

(11) BUS MAINTENANCE

THE MAINTENANCE SUB-GROUP EXAMINED MAINTENANCE STANDARDS FOR KMB'S BUSES, PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COST REDUCTION TO THE COMPANY IN THE USE OF SPARE PARTS, WHILE ENSURING THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO COMPROMISING OF SAFETY STANDARDS. THE SUB-GROUP HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS OF THE COMPANY ARE GENERALLY SPEAKING ADEQUATE, ALTHOUGH IT HAS MADE SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS CONCERNING THE STANDARDISATION OF BUSES, MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES AND VEHICLE INSPECTION.

(111) BUS DEPOTS

THE DEPOT REQUIREMENTS SUB-GROUP SET OUT TO PRODUCE A REALISTIC PROGRAMME FOR THE PROVISION OF NEW DEPOT FACILITIES, AND TO ESTABLISH MOST ECONOMICAL MEANS OF MEETING THE LAND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROVISION OF DEPOTS. THREE OPTIONS FOR THE PROVISION OF DEPOT FACILITIES WERE CONSIDERED - A MINIMUM OPTION BASED UPON LIMITING THE FUTURE PROVISION OF NEW DEPOT FACILITIES AS FAR AS POSSIBLE BY MAKING USE OF EXISTING AND COMMITTED MAINTENANCE FACILITIES, AND ACCEPTING A HIGH LEVEL OF ON-STREET PARKING OF BUSES AT NIGHT; A MODERATE OPTION SEEKING TO ENSURE THAT EACH GEOGRAPHICAL OPERATING AREA IS REASONABLY SELF-CONTAINED IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE FACILITIES AND DAYTIME OFF-STREET PARKING, AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL LAND FOR OVERNIGHT PARKING IN THOSE AREAS WHERE ON-STREET PARKING IS LEAST ACCEPTABLE; AND A MAXIMUM OPTION, AS AN EXTENSION OF THE MODERATE OPTION, TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT ADDITIONAL LAND FOR DEPOT FACILITIES TO ENSURE THAT ALL BUSES COULD BE PARKED OFF-STREET AT NIGHT WITHIN THE IR OPERATING AREAS.

/DURING ITS