North Western's 4-1m. Loss of Stage Passengers
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THE continuing loss of traffic on stage carriage services, the failure of the Chancellor to see the light with regard to the penal tax on fuel oil, and increases in wages followed inevitably by an increase in fares, were referred to as the disappointments of the past year by Mr. T. Robert Williams, chairman of the North Western Road Car Co. Ltd., at the company's annual meeting on Tuesday. There was, however, encouragement in the express service field, said Mr. Williams, where improved services had met with an increasing response from the public. The company had a record year in private hire and contract work and Altrincharn Coachways and Melba Tours had maintained their revenue in the excursions and private hire field.
On stage carriage services, however, some 4f m. fewer passengers were carried last year than in 1961, a fall of over 5 per cent., while the increased fares introduced in June last year yielded less than two-thirds of the expected figure.
Mr. Williams said it was not yet possible to make any informed comment about the likely effect of Beeching report closures upon the company's traffic; they had to bear in mind that the company was already overburdened by crosssubsidization and 31.7 per cent, of stage carriage mileage was operated below cost.
During the past year, 1250,910 had been spent on rolling stock replacements, including 35 53-seat single-decker buses, 20 of them dual-purpose vehicles for stage carriage or express work. The company also put into service 10 express coaches with 49-seat bodies.
Mr. Williams reported that before the autumn the company would be introducing 38 high-capacity double-deckers of a new design and before the end of the year a further 12 coaches for private hire and express operations.
(It is understood that the 38 doubledeckers will be 20 Fleetlines and 18 Renowns with Park Royal bodies.)