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PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.

10th November 1925
Page 14
Page 14, 10th November 1925 — PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.

A NORTHERN COMPANY'S 1925 COACHING RESULTS.

Details of the Past Season's Activities of a Prominent Company who have their Headquarters at Chester-le-Street.

THE curtain has been rung down upon another motor coaching season and, with the 'rush of this essentially seasonal business now subsided, it is possible to review conditions_ and results and to make some interesting comparisons with past years. Whatever may be the position in other parts of the country, it can be accepted from the experiences of prominent undertakings in the North Country that the coach industry is steadily winning favour in that area, and that 1925 has proved itself one of the busiest and most successful seasons to date.

As an example of the growing popularity of motor coaching in the area just mentioned, a fitting illustration can be found in the 1925 achievements of the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., of Chester-le-Street. This company have had a particularly full • and strenuous season and have during the four months which ended on September 30th last fulfilled what must rank as quite the most ambitious coaching programme ever prepared for that district.

With regard to advertised tours no fewer than 231 were arranged, as compared with 129 in 1924, the total mileage embraced being between 40,000 and 50,000, as against approximately 20,600 during the previous season. Of the 231 tours run in 1925 90 were whole and half-day runs of the direct-to-destination class. They were operated over 11 routes to all the most popular resorts favoured by North-country pleasure seekers, at fares ranging from 6s. to 7s. 6d. In addition, 35 _all-day trips were provided over carefully selected circular routes, these being operated over six attractive routes, each covering upwards of 100 miles and embracing some of the finest and most varied scenery in the North of England.

Probably the most striking innovation in the company's 1925 programme was the inclusion for the first time of a lengthy list of short evening tours. In former seasons this class of tour has been _neglected in the district, but the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., found that good business has resulted from the introduetion of these short evening runs. Short trips to places within 20 to 30 miles radius of Newcastle, at fares ranging from 2s. 6d. to 3s. Pd., have been run each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening during the season and have secured excellent patronage. In all 57 of these after-working-hour runs were included in the season's programme, the various destinations being as follow :— Shotley Bridge, Belsay, Roker, Whitley Bay and Monkseaton, Heddon and Vonteland, Newbiggin-by-theSea, Belsay Ind thumb°, Chollerford and Corbridge.

Equally extensive developments were Entitle on the extended tour side. Four 3CW two-day tours were included, each .tovering a mileage of approximately 200, The four routes selected were Berwick, Kelso and Melrose ; (2) Harrogate and Knaresborough ; (3) Keswick and the Lake District ; (4) Whitby and the North-east Coast. The inclusive charge in each case was 12 5s. per head, this figure covering first-class hotel accommodation and meals.

The three-day trips to the Lake District which have been featured so prominently in " Northern " programmes in previous seasons were again operated. This year these popular short Lakeland holiday runs were run on a weekly basis, at an inclusive charge of £3 158., and in all 17 journeys were made. The total mileage of this tour is about 220, and the motor launch trip on Lake Derwentwater proved a big attraction. Other three-day excursions introduced this year for the first time were those

to Scarborough and Bridlington, and to Harrogate and Blackpool, the inclusive fares being respectively £3 15s. and £4.

In addition, further steps were made to cater for the demand for extended tours by the introduction of four and five-day runs, whilst two of the most elaborate tours in the whole programme were those each covering seven days amidst some of the most famous beauty spots in Scotland in one case, and through the whole of the Lake District and parts of Scotland in the other case. The Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., who have now completed 12 years' active participation in road passenger transport 'work, have since their earliest entry into the motor coachiug side spared no pains to ensure the sound mechanical efficiency of all vehicles. This has enabled the management firmly to establish the business and to attract a steadily growing clientele. Throughout the period during which the company have been engaged in coaching involuntary halts have been practically unknown, and as a result a strong reputation has been gained for promptitude and regularity. These factors, combined with the fact that only drivers possessing first-class qualifications are employed, have all assisted in the progress of the undertaking.

One of the most interesting developments of the past season, apart from the many new features in the arrangement of the tours themselves, has been the equipping of the entire fleet of coaches, comprising ten Daimler 32-seaters with pneumatic tyres. The vehicles have been fitted in some eases with Dunlops

and in others with Macintosh Titan cords, and it is gathered that the results have been all that could be desired, both from the standpoints of reduced costs and increased riding comfort.

The good weather which prevailed for the major portion of the season enabled gratifying results to be attained practically throughout and, of the extensive programme arranged, only a minute percentage of cancellations of tours was experienced.

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Locations: Chester, Newcastle

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