Do tourists prefer double-deckers?
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• The application by City Coach Lines Ltd, of Upminster, Essex, for a licence to operate a sightseeing tour in London with double-deck buses only, was "a gimmick to get into the field of operating central London tours", Mr. C. A. Hodges, manager of Samuelsons' New Transport Co Ltd, told the deputy Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner on Wednesday. Mr. Hodges claimed that granting a licence would cause abstraction of passengers from the "Round London Sightseeing Tours" operated by his company on behalf of London Transport.
This was stated when the hearing of the application was resumed on Wednesday before the deputy Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner, Mr. W. M. Levitt. Mr. Hodges described the experience last year when Samuelsons had to hire Guy Arab double-deckers to meet a peak demand. The reaction from the public was—"Where is the coach?" This had surprised him very much. After five occasions last year when double-deckers were employed, London Transport requested that only single-deck coaches be used in the future.
Growth of tours Mr. J. M. Parham, senior executive assistant, London Transport, described the growth of the Executive's Round London Tours. These were introduced in 1955 employing London Transport doubledeckers. When the staff shortage became acute in 1963, London Transport hired coaches and drivers from another company and, since 1964, Samuelsons had operated a service under contract.
Mr. Parham feared that great abstraction of traffic from both this service and normal double-deck services would occur if the application was granted. Thousands of
"master tickets" and "Go as you please tickets" giving unlimited travel for a day on existing double-deck routes through central London, were sold in advance on the Continent and North America each year, explained Mr. Parham.
Asked by Miss E. Havers, on behalf of City Coach Lines, if he thought there was room for a short double-deck bus tour of London, Mr. Parham said there was not—hence London Transport's objection.
Mr. Levitt said that the decision would be reserved and given in writing.