Higher . Fares Strongly Resisted
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Grants to Four Midland Companies, Northern ' General Group and Thames Valley
STRONG opposition from local authorities has met bus companies applying for higher fares during the past week. The Northern General group of companies found 22 objectors to their applications. In the Midlands, Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., Midland General Omnibus Co., Ltd., Mansfield District Traction Co., Ltd., and East Midland Motor Services, Ltd., also underwent a lengthy hearing before the Commissioners. because Of local opposition. The applications were granted.
. These four companies stated their case at a joint sitting of the East Midlands and Yorkshire Commissioners on Monday. Mr. S. Herington, representing them, described the application as
" further step towards general standardization of fares."
" All the companies have been finding their traffic falling heavily—by as much as 6.7 per cent, since the strike," he said.
Trent Proposals
Mr. Stephen Ferry, Trent's traffic manager, said it was proposed Jo increase single fares up to 54-d. by +.d. and by ld. above 6d. Some 2d. fares would be increased by 14d. Fares of 10d. would rise to Is. and workmen's reduced fares, after 9 a.m., would revert to the normal rate. There were several exceptions to the general application, aiming at greater standardization.
Mr. E. A. Yeomans, secretaryaccountant of the Trent company, told a questioner that the overall increase in all the fares was 6 per cent. Mr. -E. G. Dravers, traffic manager of East Midland, pointed out that there had been no advance in the company's return fares since 1953. The majority of the increases would affect the higherrange fares, although 87 per cent, of the tickets sold by the company were single fares up to Is. Although the increases would yield £64,600, more than £63,000 would be taken up by higher costs. Wages would account for nearly two-thirds of this figure.
Passenger Loss Against the competition of cars, scooters and television, the Northern General group of bus companies lost lm. passengers last year, the Northern Traffic Commissioners were told at Newcastle last week. Up to the end of June. the loss this year was already lrt passengers, said Mr. J. L. R. Croft.
He was applying for permission for the companies to introduce a new fare scale based strictly on mileage. Under the scale 7,600 single fares would be reduced, 1,300 would be increased and 6,400 would be unaltered, whilst 5,988 return fares would be increased, 398 reduced and 1,219 would remain the same.
Mr. Croft said that since the existing fare scale had been approved in February last year. the companies' annual costs had riven by £318,000. The new scale would bring in an extra £165,000
A32 a year. Blaming television for some of the drop in passengers, he pointed out that Tyneside and County Durham would soon have independent television as an added attraction for people to stay indoors.
Mr. W. Steer, representing 22 local authorities objecting to the application, contended that the people who were riding motor scooters were formerly cyclists, and not bus passengers. He said that the authorities, having heard the evidence, were prepared to withdraw their objection in order to see what the results of the new fare structure would be.
Granting the application, the chairman, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, said the companies were not seeking to recoup the whole of the amount of the increase in costs.
Gateshead Increase The Northern Commissioners also granted an application by the Gateshead District Omnibus Co., Ltd., to increase fares on services in Gateshead and Felling. It was stipulated that they must not be put into operation until October ls the day after a similar application will be made by Newcastle Corporation, who run some joint services with the company Making the application, Mr. Croft said that since the present fares were put into operation, costs had increased by £36,650 a year.
The Thames Valley Traction Co., Ltd., successfully applied to the South East Traffic Commissioners for fare increases. Mr. J. R. C. Samuel-Gibbon said an extra wage bill of £61,600 now had to be met every year, bringing the company's total needs to £79,000.
By "telescoping" single fares and modifying the price of season tickets, they could make up only £70,250. It was hoped to find another £9,650 by introducing more one-man services. All the county councils affected, except Berkshire. originally objected to the application, but withdrew before the inquiry started.
The West Midland Traffic Commissioners have reserved decision on an application by the 13irmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., for a revision of fares on 15 services operated jointly with, or on behalf of, Birmingham Corporation.
The Bristol Omnibus Co., Ltd., and Bath Tramways Motor Co., Ltd., are asking for increases ranging between Id. and 2d. on some country routes, to bring them into line with those granted to the Western National Omnibus Co., Ltd. Between 3d. and 6d. there would be +d. increases, with Id. on fares over 7d. Some return fares would go up by 2d.
Revision Sought If the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners agree, fares on 125 services operated by the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., will be revised. The application asks for a modified scale, excluding fares which are the subject of protective agreements with other operators.
Keighley-West Yorkshire Services, Ltd., Harrogate, are seeking increases and revisions on 33 services in the West Riding, whilst Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., want to cease some weekly contracts on Yorkshire services.
• Stockton Town Council have agreed to seek a new fares structure under which stages would be shortened. However, at a public inquiry in the town last March, the council were warned by the Traffic Commissioners that any future application would have to include the deletion of scholars' tickets and workmen's fares wholly or in part.
The council will try to gain approval for the retention of privilege fares, but have prepared a substitute application in case the Commissioners reject them. This abolishes privilege fares.