MOTOR COACHING IN COLWYN BAY.
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Conditions in a North Wales Centre with Particular Reference to the Activities of a Prominent Passenger Vehicle Company.
MOTOR coaching conditions in the North Wales town of Colwyn Bay promise to be on a better basis this year than they were during last season. It has been decided by local owners, who recently held a meeting to discuss the matter of fares, that between now and June 30th the charge shall he 1id. per passenger per mile, and that from July 1st to September a charge of 2d. per passenger per mile shall rule.
In an interview with a member of the staff of J. Fred Francis and Sons, LW., a representative of this journal was informed that it was absolutely necessary to fix a minimum charge of 10. per passenger per mile, in view of the short season, the type and quality of the vehicles which have to he put into service to attract custom and the irregular nature of the business. LaSt year it was impossible to get anything more than this figure; as a matter of fact, a, number of tours was run at less simply due to the stress of local competition. The motor coach season at Colwyn Bay starts in real earnest in July, and vehicle owners expect to do the maximuna business during the period of the sehool holidays.
The principal firm of coach owners in Colwyn Bay, J. Fred Francis and Sons, Ltd., who have four Leyland 23-seater coaches in service, are experimenting with the semi-enclosed type of coach of a design that is popular in the Riviera. As most of our readers will be aware, this consists of what may be termed a two-compartment body, the front portion being of the ordinary open-type protected by a small pull-over cover and a rear portion which is enclosed. This part of the vehicle is luxuriously fitted up, and has drop windows at the sides and glass panelling at the front.
Although Messrs. Francis have not as yet. made plans to acquire new coaches for the 1924 Season, should business warrant, it, additional units will be added to the fleet, and these may possibly be of the semi-enclosed type if the present experiment proves successful. It must be borne in mind, however, that Colwyn Bay owners have to appeal to an entirely different class of patron to that for which, their colleagues at Llandudno or Rhyl have to cater. The resort, is held in favour by families of holidays-makers rather than by individuals, and for that reason it is necessary for owners to pay particular attention to the select nature of their outings.
Messrs. Francis and Sons, who also operate a fleet of Leyland buses, run a al-minute service in conjunction with the Royal Blue Motors of Llandudno, between Llandudno; Peurhynside, Rhoson-Sea, Colwyn Bay and Old Colwyn. All the vehicles employed on this ser
vice are single-decker saloons, seating about 28 passengers. Between Old Colwyn and Llandudno there are three means of communication :—(1) Tramcar; (2) railway ; and (3) motorbus. To even a casual observer it is obvious that the motorbus is the most popular of the three forms of passenger transport. There is not much difference in the fares charged on the various types of conveyance, and the buses are chosen because of the regular and dependable service which they provide. The railway time-table between the two olaces shows a very infrequent system of trains. Furthermore, the route is circuitous, and it is necessary to change trains at Llandudno Junction.
Another service maintained by Messrs. J. Fred Francis and Sons is that be
tween Colwyn Bay and Abergele. Five journeys are made each day.
Amongst the motor coach tours which are scheduled for this season are the following :—Day tours : The Moor and Mountain 'four, 21s. ; 'Lie& Valley, 17s. 6d.; Snowdon and Llanberis,
12s. ; , Criccieth and PwIlheli, 17s. 6d.; the Vale of Llangollen, 17s, 6d..; Aberglaslyn and Beddgelert, 16e.; Dolg,elly and Barmouth, 25s. ; Isle of Anglesey tour, 21s. Half -day tours : Denbigh and Pentrevoelas, lOs 6d. • Bettws-y-Coed and Narit Ffran • con Leap, as. 6d. ; Swiss Alpine tour, 8s. 6d.; Fairy Glen and Dolwvdclelan, 8s. '6d. ;I the Mountain Loop, as. 6d. ; Rhyl, St. Asa.ph and Marble Church, 5s. • B•oduant Hal and Gardens and Tely-cfn, 4s.