SOME ASPECTS OF BLACKPOOL COACH FARES.
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Changes in Charges Brought About by a Better Understanding Amongst Proprietors.
IIHERE is a much better element of 1 stability in the Blackpool motorcoaching industry. Of the 230 coaches now in service, 200 are of the saloon type. Only about 10 per cent, of the
vehicles are licensed for the whole of the 12 months, comprising those mainly engaged in the daily services, whilst 55 per cent, are licensed for six months, and 35 per cent, are licensed for three months only, i.e., the busy July-to-September quarter of the year. Thus, at the present time, the whole of the town's fleet is in commiqskea.
The outstanding feature this season of the Blackpool trade is the better feeling existing amongst the local owners, who have a common understanding in the matter of rates. An outward manifestation of this is that fares are higher than those ruling this time last year, and are from 40 per cent. to 60 per cent, better on the daily services than they were
three months ago. Since April, there have been three revisions of the price list and the rates to Liverpool and Manchester have been raised from 3s. return to 5s. 6d. and 5s, return respectively for the 100-mile journey, without any perceptible loss of traffic, apart from that which can be accounted for by the lessened opportunity for residents to travel owing to the demands of "the season."
The Blackpool rate to Liverpool is
110w, for the first time for many months, a little in excess of that quoted by the Liverpool owners to Blackpool, namely, 5s. return, but the Manchester fare is still on the low side when compared with that charged by the Manchester owners, _which is 6s. return and 4s. 6d. single. In the off-season of the year Blackpool people find Manchester a favourite trip because of the opportunity it provides for seeing the shops and, perhaps, visit
lug a theatre in the evening. Inter-running arrangements are made with Manchester owners whereby passengers may, it they choose, return home the following morning by an outward coach from Manchester.
The following is a summary of the price alterations in the daily services from Blackpool since the beginning of the season :—
February May June Return, Return. Return.
a. d. s. d. a. d. Manchester . 3 0 4 0 4 6 Liverpool ... 3 0 4 0 4 6 Bolton ... 3 0 3 6 3 6 Blackburn ... 2 6 3 0 3 0 High-season fares are now being
charged, and these show' a still further small increase, but even now they are well below 1d. per passenger per mile.
The current tariff is as follows:—
It will be noticed that the journey to Liverpool is 6d. more than that to Manchester, despite the fact that the mileage -is about the same.
The Blackpool and District Motor Coach Owners' Association gives a detailed list of all its members, who are engaging in the daily services, of which the following is a summary : Coaches leave for Manchester am! Bolton at 9.30 a.m. daily and at 10 a.m. on Sunday, from the garages of Empire Motors, Hills Motors, Ltd., Lansdowne Motors, M. and H. Motors, Ltd., S. and J. Wood, Ltd. Vehicles leave for Mancheater, Bolton, Blackburn and Liverpool at the same times, from the garages of Salisbury and Sons, Ltd., C. Smith, Spencers Motors, Standervick's, Ltd., Wood Bros., Ltd. (John Bull Motors).