Slimmer NBC is winning back passengers
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• Although the total number of passengers carried by National Bus Company stage carriage services in the first nine months of this year was slightly down on the figure for the equivalent period of 1971, the number of passengers per mile increased and in some areas there was a rise in the total number of passengers carried. This news was given by Mr F. A. S. Wood, NBC chairman, last week, when he also forecast that the company would turn last year's loss into a profit big enough to repay the Government's special £7m grant The occasion was an informal "progress report" meeting between senior NBC executives and the Press.
Mr Wood revealed that in the -first nine months of 1972 revenue was 5.4 per cent higher than during January to September 1971 while costs rose by only 2.4 per cent. And although the vehicle fleet had been cut by 4.7 per cent, total mileage was only 3.7 per cent down. Without any savage redundancy the total staffing figure had been slimmed by 6.9 per cent.
Both Mr Wood and NBC chief executive Mr S. J. Skynne felt that a lower turnover of staff, and hence more reliable services, had been the main contribution in slowing, or even reversing, the passenger decline.
Asked about the effects of the wage and price freezes on NBC's next annual results, Mr Wood said that the influence of these might be vital — but the double freeze would not necessarily act against the company's interests.
Mr Skyrme revealed that the NBC was offering not only expert skills and resources to county authorities to help them draw up the corporate transport plans demanded under the local government re-organization, but was also prepared to second staff for this purpose. NBC, he said, was very well aware of the opportunities presented by this reorganization.
Despite London Transport's decision to halt its switch to o-m-o, NBC is not having second thoughts on o-m-o, which Mr Wood said had been a great aid to NBC's financial situation. About 52 per cent of NBC stage services are now o-m-o and in some areas — such as Alder Valley it is approaching 100 per cent.
The director of the Central Activities operation set up nine months ago, Mr David Glassborrow, said that the coaching services of NBC were still being reorganized; especially with 1000 miles of motorway there was a great opportunity to offer a real express network and one of the present tasks was to co-ordinate the many licensing conditions. Reservation procedures would become standard, which meant co-ordinating the existing chart rooms, but marketings would not be launched until the groundwork organization was ready.
He said that 1974 would be the first season of tours to show the effects of the re-organization — and he stressed that there would be ranges of tours to suit different pockets, and particular concentration on servicing the London tourist market more effectively.
• Derby Corporation Transport is offering a single-deck service for the first time, following the acquisition of five new Leyland semi-coaches each worth £10,500.