London Express Fares Up 12-ro: Two Operators Exempt
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AN application for a 121-per-cent. increase in single and return fares on express services operating to and from London was granted by the Metropolitan and South Eastern Licensing Authorities in London on Monday. The increases will operate at week-ends and bank holidays between Whitsun and September 30.
Exemption was granted to Aldershot end District Traction Co., Ltd., and Thames Valley Traction Co., Ltd. .
Mr. S. D..1-leringion, for the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association, said . he application %.*;as modest, having regard to rises in costs since 1951, when the last increase was made.
For Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., Mr. G. Duckworth said the margin between revenue and cost was 2.28d. per vehicle-mile in 1951 and 1.24d. in 1955.
Mr. J. Speight, of George Ewer and Co., Ltd., said that between 1951 and 1954 his company's receipts from express services increased by 1.21d. per vehicle-mile and expenditure bymore than 4W. per vehicle-mile. Net profit of 6.01d. in 1951 had been reduced to 2.87d. by 1954.
Mr. R. Evans, for Aldershot and District, said they were seeking exemption because if they had to participate in the increase the result would be catastrophic.
Much of the company's week-end traffic comprised Service personnel. The existing period return from Aldershot to London cost 8s. 9d., as compared with the railways' concessionary. fare of 8s. 2d. A 121-per-cent. increase would raise the coach fare to 9s. 9d.
The Thames Valley exemption concerned their service from Reading. via Maidenhead.
Granting the application; the chairman of the Metropolitan Authority, Brig, R. 1, 0. Dowse; said they felt it was '' not unreasonable."
Me. H. J. Thom, chairman of the South Eastern Authority, who sat with Brig. Dowse, emphasized that his Authority were participating in order to assist the Metropolitan Authority in administrative difficulties.
" in my opinion, this is not the method in which to deal with an application of this kind," he said. It . was his view that each operator involved in an application should come before The Authority individually.