Evening star., 1942-05-23
Steps Are Taken
To Ration Rail
And Bus Space
D. C.-to-New York
Pool of Service
Being Arranged


Defense Transportation to be used
as basis for determining travel re-
quirements and available facilities.
Meanwhile, Washington-to-New
York bus lines were working out the
Governments new plan of mileage
reduction by arranging to pool serv-
Ices, stagger schedules, interchange
tickets and eliminate certain dupli-
eating operations
The survey of passenger services
will take in travel originating in
100 cities, including Washington.
The information, it was announced,
will be used 'in adjusting travel re-
quirements to the available supply
OF passenger transportation facili-
ties and services.
The canvass, to be carried out by
the rail and bus systems, will end
at midnight Thursday. Meanwhile
a complete tabulation of intercity
tickets will be kept.
QUESTIONABLE Planned.
Joseph B. Eastman, director of
defense transportation, arranged
for brief questionnaire. Passen-
gers will be asked the purpose of
the trip, occupation, mileage, dis
tance and how often they normally
travel. Mr.. Eastman estimated that
more than 10000 travellers would be
interviewed during the week
Merger of bus facilities similar to
the plan approved for service be-
tween Washington and New York
probably will be effected in other
sections of the country.
New schedules for the Washing
ton-New York lines are being
printed. and agreements have been
reached on fares, ticket interchange
and pooling resources.
The o. D. T. order was explained
as placing bus service on a war
footing" 1t was based on a VOL
untary plan submitted by the bus
companies and followed a request by
Mr.. Eastman that the lines con
serve rubber and equipment by elm
ination Of unnecessary mileage"
o. D. T. officials estimate the
changes will reduce the total sched-
uled mileage by approximately 25
per cent, or 5000 miles a day.
Three Lines Here Affected.
Three lines running out of Wash
ington are affected by the plan to
merge facilities: Pennsylvania Grey
hound Lines, Inc; SafeWay Trails,
Inc, and Eastern Trails, Inc. all of
which have their Offices at Twelfth
street and New York avenue NV.
The proximity of their other stations
will facilitate the coordination, it
was explained.
A fourth bus line affected. known
as the Quaker City Bus Co.. op-
crates only between Philadelphia
and New York, and does not come
into Washington.
Beginning June 8, the o. D. T.
statement said, the lines will:
81. Honor each others tickets be-
tween all points where equal fares
apply, in order to reduce overloads
and extra sections.
%. Eliminate Implications in
schedules, except between Wash
ington and Baltimore, where peak
loads make such Implications neces-
sary.
Excursions Dropped.
"3 Discontinue one-day eXcur-
sions between New York and Phila-
delphia.
4. Discontinue week end excur-
sions between New York and Camp
Dix. N. j., via Trenton, N. j., so
that the traffic will be handled by
the Quaker City Bus Co.'S direct
line"
At the Offices of Safeway here, it
was explained that both Safeway
and Eastern are a part of the So
called "Trailways System" and have
been operating out of the same term
inal. The Offices of Eastern are
being moved from here to New York
City, it was explained, but Safeway
Offices remain here.
The Greyhound terminal is at the
same intersection but on another
corner, across the street.
SafeWay officials said most of the
details have been worked out, but
some points, especially as to fares,
remain to be decided.
Privileges to Be Shared.
The o. D. T. order also provided
that carriers exclusive operating
rights in any of the States involved
may be made available to others.
This, the o. D. T. explained, will
provide more complete local service
even though the total number OF
trips is reduced.
Eastern Trails will share its ex-
elusive local stop privileges in New
Jersey with other lines operating
over the same routes. and Grey
hound will share similar privileges
In Pennsylvania and Maryland.
The order also provides that Grey
hound shall discontinue its service
over U. S. Route /, between Phila-
delphia and Baltimore, and transfer
its operating rights to SafeWay and
Eastern. Safeway, which has GER
tain exclusive rights on this route,
will share them with Eastern.
Schedules to Be Slowed.
At the same time, Safeway will
suspend service over U. S. Route 40
between Philadelphia and Balti-
more and transfer its rights to
Greyhound.
In adjusting schedules, particular
consideration is to be given to local
passengers, the o. D. T. explained.
Although the order does not
specifically provide for this, the
o. D. T. said it had been informed
by bus officials that all express
service will be eliminated and that
schedules will be slowed. Buses
make an average of % stops be-
tween New York and Washington,
as compared with six or seven by
trains, it was explained.
The plan has been approved by
the Justice DEPARTMENT and is to