PROGRESS IN PASSENGER TRAVEL.
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
Coach Picnic Parties.
An Idea which Renders Tourists Independent of Hotels for Meals.
OWING to the need for economy, it is anticipated that short journeys will constitute the bulk of the char-abancs business during the present season. Last year it was found that many hotels charged extortionate prices for meats provided for motor coach parties, the meals themselves being of poor quality. Once bitten, twice shy, has applied in the case of these hotels, and the possibility of char4-bancs proprietors providing their own meals for their passengers is now attracting attention, and picnic parties on 'coaches specially arranged for the purpose will be scheduled this season as a new touring attraction.
In some cases the day's journey, including meals provided on the car, will be charged for at a fixed sum, the meals themselves being provided at about half the cost that a hotel would ask, which will in itself form a considerable attraction. One proprietor's idea is tq provide hampers on the coaches, which will be able to carry enough provisions for two cold meals. The driver would be in charge of the provisions., and the passengers would be served out with their rations in, more or less, picnic fashion. Another scheme is to hand over the catering arrangements to a contractor, who would tratel on the vehicle, and who would be responsible for everything being carried out in a proper manner. A motor coach suitable for picnicking aas already been constructed. In place of the usual three centre banks of seats, two compartments are -constructed in which the passengers sit facing each other fore and aft. A collapsable table which, in the ordinary course of affairs lies concealed flush with the floor, can be erected when a meal is to be Lerved. Seats are provided on the inner face of the side doors, which are locked by the action of raising the seat, and the travellers, when the meal is laid, can then sit round the table in the ordinary manner.
The necessary provisions are to be carried in suitable compartments under the seats, or they could be stored in the rear compartment. This is only one method of tackling a very interesting subject. The attractions of motoring out to some well-known-beauty spot and having an al fresco meal under the trees or-on the banks of the stream are obvious to all who consider them.
Coach Fares 50 Per cent. Less than Rail Fares.
SOME astonishingly low rates are being charged by motor coach proprietors in the north country, and during a visit to Blackpool and Preston a representative of this journal found that it was possible to travel by cosch at much less than railway rates. i-For' instance,' the distance between the two places mentioned is 14 miles, and the train fare
(single) is 2s. yet it was possible to book the return coach journey for 3s. One Blackpool proprietor went a step further, and announced to all and sundry that the return fare to Preston (allowing for a three hours' stay) was 2s. 6d. Considering that this is single booking'trade, it needs no argument to show how ridiculous these charges are. Other instances could be giNn of tours up to 70 miles which work out 'on a similar basis of almost id. per mile. During the colliers' strike, we learn that many of the proprietors in the mining districts reduced their rates with a view to attracting passengers. Proprietors who cater for footballers and the followers have not had much to complain of, notwithstanding scarcity of money.
A Notth Wales Tour.
Demonstrating the Capabilities of the Modern Coach for Extended Touring.
ONE of the important points which all coach proprietor's should always seek to impress upon their clients is that to reach some of the finest beauty spots of England one has either to walk,-cycle, or motor. The railway takes you part of the way, but the whole of the way rarely. For instance, if one wants to view the magnificent Scenery of North Wales, such as between Bettws-y-Coed, and Pen-y-Gwryd, and Beddgelert, the Pass of Aberglaslyn, and Nant Efra,ncon Pass, one has to choose one of the alternatives we have indicated. The millions of people living within 100 miles of these places littleknow that they have Switzerland. at their doorstep as it were, and the reason one ventures to say why, many of them are so complacently illinformed of their own country's beauty spots is that up to now there has been no one to cater for them collectively.
The Lancashire United Tramways, Ltd.; has taken the initiative in this matter, and has demonstrated to a party of journalists the capabilities of the' modern motor coach for extended touring, and the facilities for accommodation which North Wales affords. In two days the party covered 200 miles and then had plenty of time to soliloquize on the real utility of the motor coach to the community. In how many newspapers and periodicals an account of tour will utimately appear can only be guessed at, but we merely mention the point in order to remind coach proprietors that if they have a good proposition to put before the public they should tell them all about it.
Two coaches, each 24-seaters on Fiat chassis and 'equipped with pneumatics on the front wheels and twin N.A.P. tyres on the rear, were employed to Convey the party. N.A.P. tyres prose an excellent compromise between solids and pneumatics. Both have their advantages and their disadvantages, bet N.A.P. tyres aro a happy go-between, ensuring comfortable travelling, without much loss of speed. The 14-seaters, owned by the L.U.T. Co., have only reeently been fitted with N.A.P.s; therefore, it, is not, possible to state how they compare with the maker's guarantees, lout that they .do make a very substantial contribution to a smooth-running journey passes beyond question. The two coaches, one from Manchester and the other from Liverpool, each carrying the newspaper representatives of the journals published in the respective districts, were accompanied by an Austin landaulet, of which the L.U.T. Co. has two, for use, as we iaid in our last issue, in connection with motor coach parties.
Thechars-ft-banes met at Rcisset, and they continued the journey via Wrexham, to ,Llangollen, where luncheort was served at the Punsonby Arms Hotel—one of the three establishments owned by the Tourist Hotels, Ltd., with whom the L.U.T. have a working agreement.. From the fact that the . LILT. alone last year conveyed 15,060 passengers to Llangollen—which is an ideal one-day's return run from both Liverpool and Manchester, and the, limited catering resources of the town—it was only to he expected that the coach owners would this season provide more adequate accommodation. Coaching centres all over the country are now being equipped to provide for the wants of passengers, and what Tourist Hotels, Ltd., are now doing at Llangollen is to build an extension to the dining-room, which, when completed (it is expected for the Whit holidays) b will be over 200 it. long and capable of seating 450 diners at one meal. Adjacent thereto is one of the latest gas-equipped kitchens, capable of turning out 800 meal at one cooking. This dining hall will be_the largest in the district, and in the winter season will be available for meetings, whist drives, etc.
In the next 21hours the party journeyed through country the charms of Which were so manifold and its scenery so diversified as to inspire a feeling of awe even in the most blase of us. The run Sown into Bettws-y-Coed from a height of steeral hundreds of feet, with towering Ir.:eights covered with foliage of the most exquisite and varied hues, on one shit, and the River Conway flowing in• the valley beneath, on the other,, was indeed a magnificent trip. No less remarkable was the journey between Peny-gwryd and Beddgelerf. In these mountain fastnesses we rarely passed asoul, the roads were deserted, and Snowdon, shecideng the last vestiges of its snowy garment, stood aloft in its magnificeut grandeur. Steep as some of the roads were, a censistent speed was mains tamed throughout.
• One of the first sights we noticed on reaching Beddgelert was the sign outside a leading hotel: " No accommodation for char-a-bancs parties." We sped on, and in a few minutes the cheery host of the Royal Goat Hotel (Tourist Hotels, Ltd.) extended to us a hearty welcome. In a few minutes we partook of the excellent fare which the hotel provides. Beddgelert is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful spots in North Wales. Situated at the foot of the mountain, it forms a splendid l starfing-point for expeditions to Snowdon. The hotel stands on rising ground, clear of the village, and has two motorbuses, which meet all trains at the nearest station, Portmadoc, seven miles away. On certain days of the week the buses run between Bettwsy-Coed and Beddg-elert. The following morning we 'had a preliminary canter, before leaving Bedd. geIerte down the Pass of Aberglasiyn and reversing at the well-known Aberglaslyn Bridge, then travelled to Capel Curig, via Nant Ffrancon Pass, to Lienfairfechan. Nant Ffra,ncon has a peculiar charm of its own. When we passed the sombre-looking waters of Llyn Ogwen, they created an effect quite in harmony with the splendour of the surroundinge. Seven miles from Bangor, at Bethesda, we journey for the toast, to Llanfairfeehari' where luncheon was served at tvhe Queen's Rotel, another of the Tourist Hotels, Ltd. es.tablishments. The coaches then started . off again, via Conway, Colwyn Bay, Abergele, Holywell, to llawarclen, where we partook of a final meal, and, afteir many farewells, made homeward tracks—one coach going to Manchester, the other to Liverpool. Attention might .usefully be directed in conclusion to a few outstanding leaturesi—That a weekend tour, covering 200 miles in two clays (Saturday arid Sunday) can be comfortably undertaken and without the slightest fatigue, when the gastronomic needs of the tourists and accommodation are provided for. One can imagine the sense of enjoyment being dulled by long waits for meals after a long journey., but. when parties are booked in advance and the coach proprietors arrange with hotel keepers for meals to be ready by certain times, its effect is not' lust on the passengers. Smooth running and comfortable coaches are essential.
The organization 'of extended tours demands a thoughtful. consideration for passengers, and, from our observations, the Lancashire United Tramways, Ltd.. have made arrangements which should satisfy the most exacting tastes.
A 1,000 Miles' Tour.
ONE of the Blackpool coach proprietors, Mr. 3. H. Hodge, has arranged for a 1,000 miles' tour to Devonshire and Cornwall, to occupy 11 days, for an inclusive charge of 16 guineas: Extended tours are likely to be very popular again this season, and many coach owners have either arranged with hotel keepers, acquired interests in catering establishments, or purchased existing hotel premises, to ensure the needs. of the parties being fully catered for. This is the natural outcome of the absurd attitude taken up by some hotel keepers in different parts of the country in declining to eater for passengers travelling by "'enlarged motorcars,' and from what we have seen and heard from coach owners, they have every prospect' of proving their independence of hotels, the discrimination in the choice of which may this summer give hotel proprietors cause for regret.
The -following is an itinerary for a 1,000 miles' tour from Blackpool:—
1st day, leave Blackpool for Learning' ton; • 2nd day, leave Leamington for Bath via Stratford-on-Avon and Cheltenham; 3rd day, leave Bath for Torquay vial Wens, Glastonbury, Exeter, Teignmouth, and Dawlish; 4th day, Torquay all day; 5th day, leave Torquay for Newquay via Plymouth and Bodmin; 6th
day, leave Nevsyuay for Penzance and Land's End; 7th day, leave Penzance for Tavistock via Redruth and Truro ; 8th day, leave Tavistock for Bournemouth via Exeter, Chard, Dorchester and Poole; gth day, Bournemouth all day; 10th day, leave Bournemouth for Warwick; 11th day, leave Warwick for Blackpool. Luggage is,.restricted to one suit case for two passengers or single passengers one hand valise only.
Nottingham Char-a-bancs Traffic. cO.AL-STRIKE difficulties served further to illustrate the weakness of Nottingham Corporation arrangements in relation to mechanically-propelled traffic. It was found necessary to discontinue all tramway services on
days, with a suspension of tram communication after 7.30 on subsequent evenings of the week, and, with the removal of the dead hand of municipal prohibition which ordinarily obtains in regard to competitive forms of business, char-a-bancs proprietors reaped a rich harvest at prices, which, although -100 per cent. in advance of ordinary tram fares for journeys of restricted length, were readily paid. 'The adoption, which had been long commended of a more enterprising policy upon the part of the Corporation as to establishing an adequate fleet of motor buses would have saved much of the trouble, but the authorities appear to be immovable in their hostility towards the adoption of motorbuses, with the result that public convenience was:again made to suffer. The situation, however, served to illustrate that chars-a-bancs and motorbuses can supply the needed facilities
A Luxurious 24-seater.
AVERY luxurious; 24-seater motor coach has been completed by John Buckingham, Ltd., Bradford Street-,
liirmioghans. to the order of the Westeliff Char-t-bancs Co., Southend-on-Sea. Four abreast armchair seats are fitted in each tier, the whole being tastefully upholstered in red leather. The backs are supported on springs, and are stuffed with hope-hair. The body is also finished in red, and presents a most striking •appearance. This char-b-basics is one of a fleet to be used. for long-distance trips from Southend and Westgate to Wales, the duration of the run being scheduled to oeupy 14 days. We hope to be able to refer more fully to this vehicle in an early issue.
National Legislation for Coaches? • THE evil that men do lives after them So it would appear with the occa-sional misdemeanours of motor coacji pas
sengers. At a meeting of the Cheshire Standing Joint Committee reference was made to the complaints by pedestrians and other users of the road of the "rowdyism" of coaching passengers travelling throughout Cheshire last sumsuer.
The Chief Constable said that in the by-laws for the trains and railways, was made perfectly plain that control of char-a-bancs parties could be brought about by means of by-laws. The County Council had the power to make these bylaws to meet the case, but he thought that action should be taken for the whole country and not for single counties. Be claimed that it Was absolutely essential that something should be done. Just as tramway officials could tern off any passenger misbehaving himself, so should char-a-basics drivers have the same power. The police could not deal with the matter adequately, but the County Councils Association should decide what department could take the matter up. The matter was referred to the County Councils Association.