Public " Cushioned " Against Costs
Page 47
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QTRINGENT economies and increas ingly efficient methods of operation had helped Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., to " cushion " passengers against the full effect of mounting costs. But, said Mr. H. Bottomley, general manager, last week, increased wages and improved conditions for employees would cost the company ah extra 1350,000 per year.
Application had been made to the Traffic Commissioners to increase fares, but, subject to certain expectations, it was not proposed to increase stage fares of less than 41c1., apart from those of town services where fares of 3+cl. and upwards were to be increased by id. Contract ticket rates in respect or these services would be increased by 6s. 6d. per quarter. In the case of other stage set-vices, single fares would he increased by Id. and return fares by 2d. For express services the increases proposed both in single and return fares were 3d. per 5s., or fraction of 5s. Corresponding contract ticket rates would be increased by 13s. per quarter.
The Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners are to be asked to increase fares for the services of the transport departments of Rotherham and Halifax and the Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd.
Halifax will seek to increase and revise through fares and schoolchildren's contract tickets. If approved, the 2d., 3d. and 3+d. single fares will be increased by ld. and most fares, at present ranging from 4d.-10(1., will go up by Id. On .services running to points outside the borough, increases of 4d. will be sought on 2d., 3d. and 3-1d. fares, and Id. on the rest.
Rotherham seek to increase, by 1-d., those fares up to and including 8d. which were not affected by a previous increase in May, 1957. Most fares up to 8(1., which have not been raised since 1952, are scheduled to be increased by id.
Applications to increase fares, made by Hants and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., and Wilts and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., were granted by the Western Traffic Commissioners, at Bristol, last week.
For Hants and Dorset, it was stated that the recent wage award would cost the company £105,000 a year. They also faced a decline in passenger traffic. It was hoped that the wage increase would help them to attract more labour and allow them to compete for manpower with other industries.
It was stated for Wilts and Dorset that the wage award would cost £57,245 and the increased fares applied for would yield 156,170. These provided for the reduction of the distance travelled in the lower fare rates, for town services, and the abolition of the 4d. fare with the exception of the 2-Id. charge. In the case of the country services, fares up to and including 3s. 11d, were increased by 2d., those from 4s.-5s. lid., by 3d., and 6s. and above. by 5d.
ONLY £10,000 FROM TRAM SALES? WHEN Sheffield Transport Committee vv finally end the city's tram era next October, it is likely that they will have benefited by only 110,000 from the sale of unwanted trains. No buyers can be found, and already scrap dealers' offers of 1100 each have been accepted for 40 of them. The remaining 60 are likely to fetch no more.
New Bus Station at Crewe Opened
THE new bus station at Crewe, opened
by Cir. S. Orwell, the mayor, on Tuesday, is expected to Serve 6m. passengers a year, representing more than 300,000 vehicle departures.
The station, which has been provided by Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., forms an important contribution to the redevelopment of Crewe, being situated in the main shopping centre. All the town's services, which are provided by Crosville, will pass through the station, which will also deal with vehicles on the country routes in and out of the town, these being operated by the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., the Potteries Motor Traction Co., Ltd., and Crosville.
Over 50 buses operated by Crosville from the town will now be garaged and maintained oh the spot, instead of at a depot half a mile from the stand, as has been the case hitherto.
Washing Plant Covered accommodation for 30 buses is provided in the garage, whilst in a separate maintenance bay there is room for a further six vehicles which can be serviced simultaneously. The garage block includes a washing plant, a_15,000 gallon fuel store, a staff messroom and a foreman's office.
Town services in both directions will stop at passenger platforms just inside the entrance from Victoria Street. Buses will also enter and leave from Delamere Street, at the opposite end of the station, making use of the main loading bays by the office block, where there is room for 14 vehicles parked end-on to the appropriate passenger canopies.
The site was scheduled for use as a bus station under the Crewe town-planning scheme, and was purchased by Crosville from the corporation. Formerly occupied by houses, it covers nearly 10,000 square yards.
MINISTER UPHOLDS GRANT TO SALOPIA
THEgrant of a licence to Salopia Saloon Coaches, Ltd., Whitchurch, for express services from Donnington to Shrewsbury and Whitchurch, taken to appeal (The Commercial 'Motor, February 19) by the Shropshire Omnibus Association, Ltd., has been upheld by the Minister of Transport.
In a statement issued last week, the Minister agreed with the West Midland Traffic Commissioners that wasteful competition would result if both parties, who made applications at the same time, received grants. He also considered that the merits of the applications, on the questions of need, efficient services and provision of unremunerative services, were evenly balanced.
Therefore, he thought that he had to pay particular regard to the local knowledge and experience of the Commissioners. I4e considered that the evidence did not give him sufficient ground to disagree with the decision of the Commissioners.