Highland Omnibuses Refused Rise
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E application by Highland Omni buses, Ltd. to introduce increased fares, has been refused by the Scottish Traffic Commissioners. This was announced last week, in Aberdeen, by Mr. Alex Robertson, chairman, who heard the application, at Inverness, in July.
The proposed revisions involved increases between 20.-4d. on single journeys and Id.-7d. on return journeys, as well as a rise in weekly and scholars' tickets. They also wanted to raise 2d., 3d. and 3Id. fares on local Inverness services by +d.
• The application was opposed by the county councils of Inverness, Nairn, Sutherland and Caithness and the town councils of Inverness, Dingwall and Domoch.
The company claimed that as a result of recent wage awards, they would be running services at a substantial loss. The objectors, however, contended that the application was premature, as the company were bound to benefit considerably from the closure of 24 railway stations north of Inverness.
rural services in the Northern Area,
The steps being taken by operators of to combat unremunerative running were described to the Northern Traffic Commissioners, at Newcastle upon Tyne, last week, when two Co. Durham independents were granted fares increases.
Mr. R. G. Hunter, secretary of the Northern Road Transport Owners' Association, for Trimdon Motor Services, Ltd., Trimdon Grange, said that despite much of their operations being carried out over unremunerative rural routes they had taken the courageous step of re-equipping with new vehicles to achieve more economic working.
Estimated additional annual revenue from the new fares was £5,639, compared with increased costs following the recent wageaward of £5,922. Because of the time lag before applications could be heard they had already borne additional expenditure of £700.
A similar application by Gillett Bros. (Motor Services), Ltd., Quarrington was also presented by Mr. Hunter who said that it was designed to bring in £3,800 in a full year to offset increased costs of £4,900. To provide more economic operation the company had bought out a competitor and were now able to co-ordinate overlapping services. The time lag in this case had cost the company 1,1,133.
The West Midland Traffic Commissioners, on Monday, granted an application by Wolverhampton Corporation for fare increases on a number of services. Ordinary single fares between 3d.-6-1c1. were increased by -1d. and early morning concession fares, available for fare stages between 61(1.-11d. have been abolished. The remaining concession Cares of Is. and over were increased by 2d., and children's fares by Id. The new fares will come into effect on September 26.
Mr. R. H. Addlesee, general manager, said that at the present level of wages and prices there would be a loss of £60,000 on the current financial year and a deficit of £68,000 the following year. Since the last application three years ago there had been an increase in working costs of £171,000. A31