10% Drop in Bus Traffic : Manager Alarmed
Page 37
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A-DECLINE of nearly 10 per cent. in the number of passengers carried, and of more than 6 per cent, in mileage, oceurred last year in Southport Transport Department. Mr, Jackson Hoggard, general manager, in his annual report describes the situation as "alarming."
Many of the passengers who were lost as a result of the higher fares imposed during the Suez crisis have not returned to the buses. Traffic receipts fell by £20,517 to £249,533. 'Since 1955-56, receipts have dropped by 12 per cent. Bad weather during the past two summers undoubtedly had a detrimental effect on income, says •Mr. Hoggard.
Last year's loss of £31,350 was the heaviest in the department's history, but it had been possible to offset increased costs by mileage economies. Operating costs per mile were among the lowest in the country. Mileage operated fell by 132,537 to 2,134,664, and the number of passengers carried declined by 1.910,130. to 19,298,215.
Although fares were revised last January, prospects for the future are not good. declares Mr. Hoggard. Even if the new fares produced the estimated additional revenue—which was uncertain—the amount would not be sufficient to earn a profit in the current year. The last two fare increases resulted in heavy declines in passengers.
Some advantage might be gained from the use of one-man buses. Generally speaking it was impossible to make further economies, and on certain routes recent reductions in frequencies had caused a greater loss of revenue than was saved by the reduction of operating costs.
Average working expenses per mile of 28.88d. compared with average traffic revenue of 28.055d. per mile.
As The Commercial Motor reported last week, Southport's service along the beach, which has been operated by Bedford QL open buses since 1946, will cease at the end of the summer. It has carried more than 970,000 passengers. The transport department has not the funds to replace,. the vehicles.
FUEL PRICES UP id. DRICES of standard-grade petrol and oil fuel went up last Friday by +d. a gallon, making the 'inner-zone price 4s 3d., outer zone 4s. 34c1., and general zone 4s. 4d. This applied to most suppliers, although the Esso concern did not alter their petrol prices. The adjustments were described as "reflecting seasonal influences."
Commenting on the increase, Mr. C. T. Hurnpidge, general manager of Bradford Transport Department, said last Friday that he expected it and thought that fuel prices would continue to rise.
• MAKERS 50% UNDER-EMPLOYED
A CCORDING to a survey of the ti metal-using industries conducted by the National Institute of Economic and . Social Research, the commercialvehicle industry is at present underemployed to the extent of 30-50 per cent.