Progress—at a Price
Page 34
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ALTHOUGH many bus operators have been forced to prune unremunerative working to avoid further applications for increases in fares, progre=s in road passenger transport has not been stopped. Several Licensing Authorities remark in their annual reports for 1952-53 on the introduction of new services and the extension and improvement of existing facilities.
In some instances, a substantial amount of uneconomic mileage has had to be run to new housing estates from the outskirts of towns. Thus, the bus companies_ are accepting their responsi= bilities in the best tradition of public-utility undertakings. Nevertheless; they are, contrary to the views apparently held by some local authorities, entitled to a reasonable reward.
As the reports of the Licensing Authorities show, companies have become increasingly reluctant to raise their fares. Instead, they have tackled the problem of costs by all the technical means available to them. They have been assisted also by di-pensations from the need for carrying conductors and by authority to experiment with crush-load buses. These vehicles are not, however, generally liked by passengers, who, oblivious of the rise in all-round costs, expect the utmost comfort and the guarantee of a seat at almost pre-war fares.
Every encouragement should be given by the Ministry of Transport and the Licensing Authorities to operators to reduce costs. Officialdom can help by adopting a liberal policy towards applications to dispense with conductors.
The Minister was wise to disregard pressure by the trade unions for a reduction in the number of standing passengers. Had he not done so. either the operating costs of the nation's road passenger transport would have been raised by millions of pounds a year in the provision of increased services, or many passengers would have been left behind at bus stops during peak periods.
Only by making the fullest use of vehicles can an abnormal rise in costs and fares be avoided. Otherwise, the . curtailment of unremunerative working must continue and the prospects of a further extension of the bus network, except on routes which can show an immediate profit, will be jeopardized.