Rail Monop oly Broken
Page 58
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THE granting by the Durban Trans1 portation Board of an application to run a coach service between Durban and Johannesburg, in competition with the South African Railways, has caused much speculation in transport circles in the Union.
The successful applicant was Mr. L. lssacs, of the Ross Transport Co., Germiston. He informed the Board that the fare would be .£3 single and £5 return, as against the train fare of £4 18s. 6d. single and £9 4s. 7d. return. Compared with a 17-hour journey by train, the buses would cover the distance in 12-14 hours, and during the day.
There is no doubt that the Board's decision has given a jolt to the Railway Administration, which only recently raised railway tariffs by 10 per cent. and bad not attempted to take off the 10 per cent. increase in passenger fares. It was stated that the Administration would lose £200 a day if the application were granted.
It is known that the railways already have in hand extensive plans for the tourist trade, which is expected to boom when world conditions are more stable. To this end, six luxury coaches are now being built by the Administration, to be based on Durban. They should be ready for service next year on certain routes.
Each is designed to carry 25 passengers in bucket seats, arranged in pairs on one side and singly on the other, with ample window area and luggage space. The vehicles will have transparent plastic roofs And built-in lavatory accommodation at the rear. The original plans of the Administration were that these coaches would be used for sightseeing trips through Zululand, Pondoland and Natal.
There is much speculation as to whether the Administration will now apply for permission to use these coaches on the Durban-Rand trip, contending that, through private enterprise, a heavy loss is being incurred on the railway service.
Whatever the outcome, the new venture will be watched with the keenest interest. Rand business men have long suffered from inordinate delays in the delivery of goods from Durban, which, they contend, could be quickly transported by road if transport facilities were granted.