Operating Aspects of
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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
RESULT OF THROUGH BOOKINGS AND RETURN FARES APPEALS
result of appeals against decisions as to through bookings given by the Traffic Commissioners for the Northern and North-Western Areas, and the conditions as to return fares imposed by the North-Western Commissioners when granting licences and backings to the Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., and the Western S.M.T. Co., Ltd., in respect of joint services between certain towns in Lancashire and in Scotland, has now been announced by the Minister of Transport. With reference to the question of return fares, Sir Henry Wynne, in his report, expresses the view that the North-Western Commissioners did not give the appellants any real indication of their intention to consider the question of -abolishing return tickets, nor any opportunity of stating their objec
tions to such a course. .
Whilst there may be particular cases in which the issue of return tickets is open to objection unless inter-availability can be secured, the Minister realizes that the adoption in one area of a different policy in this matter from that followed in other areas would cause inconvenience, both to the public and to operators. He has, accordingly, decided to order the deletion of the condition in question.
This Order does not, however, rule out the possibility of some general review of the question of the relationship of return to single fares beings made, at a later date, in consultation withoperating and other interests.
As to the restrictions on through bookings, Sir Henry Wynne suggests that these appeals should also be allowed. The Minister gives a general acceptance of this conclusion, but as
the appeals were argued in general terms only, he is not in a position to reach a decision on the merits of any particular through fare which has been disallowed.
In the circumstances, therefore, he has decided to set aside the decision
• appealed against and to order the Commissioners to rehear those parts of the applications which relate to through -bookings at less than the summation of the individual fares for the sections of route traversed. The Order is without prejudice as to any decision which the Commissioners may reach in regard to the desirability of any particular through -booking and as to the actual tare to be charged.
The appeals regarding composite fares, which are not less than a summation of the individual fares for the sections of the route, were disallowed.