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Crew shortage, so BR applies to run bus service
Page 45
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• British Railways applied to the North Western Traffic Commissioners, in Liverpool on Tuesday, to operate a stage-carriage service between Liverpool Central station and Garston to replace an existing rail service, which Liverpool Corporation Passenger Transport Department is unable to undertake because of the shortage of bus crews. BR will surrender the licence as soon as the municipal undertaking is able to take over the passengers.
Following a report by the Transport Users Consultative Committee, on April 21 1966, the Minister of Transport issued a decision that the rail line between Liverpool and Gat e e could be closed, provided five bus services were provided at peak times.
BR sought to operate five morning and seven evening services, Monday to Friday, with three picking-up points, running approximately parallel to the rail line, said Mr. J. Trainer, BR divisional passenger manager, Liverpool. It would operate singledeckers in co-operation with Crown Coaches Ltd. Fares would be allied to existing scales.
Liverpool Corporation's transport committee said it would provide additional facilities but its decision was not confirmed by the City Council, said Mr. F. A. Moffatt, municipal traffic superintendent, giving evidence on behalf of the Corporation which
was objecting to the application. Together with Crosville Motor Services Ltd.. it operated 110 buses over the route at peak times, he said, and it felt these were adequate. It objected to a new operator extracting traffic at peak times, the revenue from which had to cross-subsidize more unremunerative services.
Mr. R. J. Williams, deputy city engineer, felt that additional vehicles would only aggravate the already bad traffic congestion along the route.
Representation was made by Mr. H. E. Titchmarsh, chairman of the CentralGatacre line passengers committee, who said the bus journey would take half as long again as the train. During the bus strike in Birkenhead recently 15 per cent of the passengers had abandoned buses permanently, he claimed.
For BR, Mr. D. 0. Diamond pointed out that the rail line was still not viable. Mr. Williams had said any unnecessary extra buses should be avoided but' had agreed that if there was no railway, a bus service was necessary. Mr. Diamond urged' that the application should be considered on its merits under the Road Traffic Act.
The Commissioners announced that they would issue their decision in writing.