Mr. Wills' Concern Over Rural Routes
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UN REMUNERATIVE rural services and "pirate" operation of small buses occupied a prominent part of the annual report of the Western Welsh Omnibus Co., Ltd., presented by Mr. John Spencer Wills, chairman, last week.
He expressed the hope that the Jack Committee would-suggest a practical and effective solution to the difficulties now facing rural operation, but said that in his opinion the greatest single contribution would be the removal of the 200 per cent. tax on oil fuel.
Illustrating the burden of rural services, Mr. Wills explained that during the past year 55 per cent. of Western Welsh routes. representing 37 per Cent. of the total mileage, were run for revenue lower than the average cost of operation. Most of these routes were in rural areas.
Loss of revenue on a single paying route could lead to withdrawal of a rural service many miles away, said Mr. Wills. That was why operators not only had to watch the would-be " musclers-in," hut also the out-and-out pirates. They used small buses which were not licensed as public service vehicles, or, if they were, were used illegally to carry fare-paying passengers.
Referring to ,revised fares, introduced in December, 1959, Mr. Wills explained that the grant had been implemented only to an extent of 70 per cent. The new scales operated only on those 'routes exclusive to Western Welsh and where co-operators were able to introduce similar fares.
It was not until February 28 this year that revised fares came into operation on the remaining routes. Inter-availability arrangements with other operators were continued, with a supplement being charged on their return tickets when used for return journeys on Western Welsh.
Despite the benefit from higher fares and the fine summer, of 1959, receipts from stage and express services increased by only £40,414, while those from ex&irsions, tours and contracts rose by £22,887. The number of passenger journeys during the year, at 81m., was 15 per cent. down on the peak year of 1955/56, although this figure showed an increase of 1,300,000 over that for, the previous year.