BUS STOPS
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Cheaper
IT WILL be more expensive per passenger to travel on a rural bus than to travel in Concorde with all the trappings of champagne and caviar.
• Liberal MP Mr David Steel claims that rural buses now cost about 50p per mile to operate, and on average in his constituency only carry two passengers per mile, a cost of 25p per passenger mile, compared with 11.2p per passenger mile in Concorde. Mr Steel has tabled a question to the Secretary of State for Scotland to ask what plans he has to improve and reduce the costs of rural transport.
Foden bus
THE prototype Foden-Northern Counties integral double deck bus now has its "chassis " completed and is at present being bodied at Northern Counties Wigan works.
Managing Director David Cherry told CM that the bus was due for completion in April and would enter service with Greater Manchester PTE as soon as possible after completion.
SBG cuts
PLANS are at present being drawn up to cut the 4,500strong fleet of the Scottish Bus Group by 250 vehicles.
This move is caused by the present financial troubles faced by the group, which has just applied to the Traffic Commissioners to increase fares by up to 20 per cent from March. The distribution of the fleet cuts between the different operating companies has yet to be decided.
More spacecars
WILLOWBROOK is now building a further batch of 34 Spacecars for National Travel. This will include four left-hand drive 12m AEC Reliance for National Travel (South East) to use on its Athens service. These coaches will be fitted with air-conditioning.
Although the first batch of Spacecars were all built on Bedford YRT chassis Willowbrook will now offer the body additionally on Ford, Leyland or AEC chassis.