Car Troubles Cut Bus Traffic
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THE recession in the motor industry was blamed for loss of traffic by Birmingham Transport Department when they applied, last week, for ,permission to increase certain fares. The application was granted by the West Midland Licensing Authority.
It was stated that in the four weeks ended July 8 there had been a loss of £16,037, compared with the corresponding period lust year. There was a loss of £75,000 in the first 12 weeks--of the current financial year.
Week-end traffic was particularly affected. Receipts in the past four weekends decreased by £14,167, compared with 1955.
Mr. J. P. Graham, Q.C., for the corporation, said that several increases had been granted in recent years, but at the end of the past financial year there was a deficit of £198,329. The estimated additional revenue from the proposed increases, after allowing for 5 per cent. passenger resistance,' was £476,920.
The application was for Id, increase on all except the 2d. and 4d. ordinary single fares, Id. on all except the Id. and 2d. children's fares, ld. on workers' fares,, and Id. on the 8d. fare on night services.
Newcastle upon Tyne Transport Committee have set up a special sub-committee to consider the possibility of revising fares.
This action was taken after the chairman, Ald. R. Mould-Graham, suggested that a scheme for revising fares should be prepared to be brought into operation as soon as possible if the increase in wages now being negotiated was approved. He said that the proposed higher wages would cost an extra £120.000 a year.
It was stated that in the past three months the undertaking's reserve fund had fallen by £43,000 to £179,000. The annual report stated that there was a gross profit of £192,347, but after meeting loan and other charges this had been turned into a loss of £29,818.
Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd., have been authorized to introduce rednced-rate weekly tickets which will mean that blind persons, who can at present travel at half the ordinary fares, will now be able to take out 10-12 journey tickets based on this cut rate.