Fare Changes in Every Area
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SINCE the previous Issue of "The Commercial Motor" appeared on September 29, changes in fares structures of companies operating in all the 11 traffic areas have been proposed, considered or granted.
Almost the whole of the Scottish Area has been affected by such moves. With certain reservations, the increases applied for by the State-controlled Scottish Motor Traction group have been granted. More than half the routes operated by Scottish Omnibuses. Ltd., are affected, and in some cases fares have been increased by as much as 20 per cent., with effect from December 1. Half-fares for children have, howevir, been extended to cover children from 5 to 15 years.
The Burden of Funding
In granting these increases, the Scottish Licensing Authority, Mr. W. F. Quin, stated that he thought it desirable for the British Transport Commission to consult the Treasury on the advisability of reducing the burden of funding—the repayment of the capital cost of the undertaking by the State—borne by acquired undertakings.. Private concerns had no such obligations to meet, said Mr. Quin.
Applications by a large number of private Scottish operators have also been heard. These include Messrs. I. Hutchinson, Wishaw; Messrs. P. Irvine and Sons, Motherwell; Messrs. G. R. Baird, Wishaw; Messrs. J. Laurie and Co., Hamilton; Messrs. J. Carmichael, Cilenboig; Messrs. MorrisonBros., Millport; Messrs. J. K. Holland, Mauchline; Mrs. J. Greenshields, Salsburg; and Messrs. H. Brown and Son, Gareloehhead. Outstanding applications concern David McBrayne, Ltd., and Lawson. Ltd., Kirkintilloch.
An application by Edinburgh Corporation to abolish the penny fare on buses and trams has been heard. Increased revenue amounting to £300,000 a year is estimated to derive from the changes proposed. The 2d. fare would be increased by id. and the 3d. maximum and children's and workmenls concessions retained. The city chamberlain said that in the past two years the undertaking's reserve fund had been depleted to the extent of £1m.
Case Not Established Three days were devoted to the hearing before the North Western Licensing Authority of the application by Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., for higher fares. A total of 693 services throughout North Wales, Cheshire and a part of Lancashire is affected. Reserving his decision, the Licensing Authority said that the company had established a case for some increases, but by no means as substantial as those sought.
It was stated that out of 42m. busmiles on stage-carriage routes, 22m. miles would be run at a loss this year. Wage increases were given as one reason for rising costs. In 1939, the
wage bill for drivers and conductors was 2.544. per mile; in 1949 it was 6.57d. per mile. Tyre costs had advanced by 209 per cent. since 1939 and lubricant costs by 166 per cent.
Stage-carriage receipts in 1950 would be 16.38d. per mile and operating costs would be 16.92d.—a loss of id. per mile, or £94,713. Operating costs were expected to be I7.15d. per mile in 1951, representing a loss of £131,547.
The North Western Traffic Area is probably most affected by proposals to vary fares: Applications by Birkenhead and Wigan Corporations have been heard. Birkenhead has proposed a general increase Of id. on. all bus fares and higher rates for contract and weekly tickets.
Wigan Corporation proposed to retain the Id. fare at a shorter stage, and existing Id., lid., 2d. and 214. fares would be increased by id. Workmen's fares would be raised.
Applications of a similar nature lodged by the following joint operators were considered in conjunction with the Wigan application: Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., Lancashire United Transport Ltd., and St. Helens and Leigh Corporations.
Fares at Resorts
Southport Corporation has now received permission to increase by Ad. all except lid. fares. The new fares are estimated to produce an additional £38,000 a year. Blackpool Corporation has also decided to apply for increased charges.
Bolton Corporation proposals to meet a possible loss in the current year of over £70,000 were heard last month. The increases in this case affect stage lengths, which it is proposed to reduce by half a mile for all ordinary fares up to aid., whereas odd half-penises would be eliminated in fares over 5id.
Complicated interworking and coordination agreements among northwestern operators have resulted in one application for higher rates affecting a number of undertakings. Higher charges are proposed by the following joint operators: Ashton-under-Lyn:. Warnington, Salford, St. Helens and Wigan Corporations, together with L.U.T., Ribble and Crosville.
A similar application affects Accrington Corporation and its joint operators. Haslingden and Rawtenstall Corporations, whilst a third concerns the Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, Rochdale, Manchester and Stockport undertakings. the Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley and Dukinfield Transport Board and the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd. Burnley, Colne and Nelson Joint Transport Committee has applied for higher rates in conjunction with Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., as well as independently.
Proposals to reduce stages to approximately 0.75 mile are contained in an application from Liverpool Corporation. Certain fares will be reduced as a result of this proposal, including those over routes on which" trams are also operated. The minimum fare will be ltd.
Special Rates Permission has now been granted Salford Corporation to revise its fares structure. Revenue is estimated to increase by £200,000 as a result of these changes, which include the abolition of the id. charging and Id. minimum fares, double fares on night and special services, and special rates for luggage and dogs.
No decision has yet been given on the general application by operators of express services to and from London for an increase of 7 1/7 per cent. Over WO operators, are concerned in three applications, the first of which was heard at the end of September. Sample figures were produced by a number of concerns to indicate the general need. and it was shown that the costs of 27 operators had increased since 1946— when the previous increase was granted —by 7.34 per cent. to 41.2 per cent.
Other operators in the Metropolitan and Eastern Traffic Areas, whose applications for revised fares have been heard, include Westcliff-on-Sea Motor Services, Ltd., Hicks Bros., Ltd., Chelmsford, and Moore Bros., Ltd., Kelvedon. The Westcliff concern proposed increases of id. on fares up to 5d., of id. up to I Id., and of 2d., 3d. and 4d. on the remaining fares. Southend Corporation's application for permission to replace Id. fares by a lid. rate was heard on the same day. In the case of the Westcliff concern, increased fares would result in a profit of £37,125, and the Southend proposals would create a surplus of £4,885, in a fall year.
Partial Permission
Fourteen routes were affected by the Hicks application and permission was granted to raise fares on three. Higher fares were granted on five out of 10 routes on which increases were requested by the Moore concern. Remaining decisions were reserved.
Revisions are asked for by a number of large operators in the outer metropolitan area. These include Luton Corporation and its joint operator. Eastern National Omnibus Co., Ltd. The changes proposed in some cases involve reduced rates. Services in Luton are principally affected.
Certain revisions are proposed by Premier Travel, Ltd., Cambridge, increases varying from id. to Is. on nine A33
routes. Benfleet and District Motor Service, Ltd., and Sargents of East Grinstead. Ltd., have lodged applications of like nature.
In hearing the application of the Gosport and Fareham Omnibus Co. for higher rates, the Metropolitan Licensing Authority stated that the issue of bundles of tickets at reduced rates would be favourably considered. Approving the application, which entails extension of workmen's tickets from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m... the Authority stated that it Wok the view that in the future, worktrien's' fires, as such, should go. Thames•Valley Traction; Ltd.; may .now increase fares on all but its London
service. . •
Much resentment was caused among South Wales-miners by the applications of Western Welsh Omnibus 'Co.., Ltd,. and Rhondda Transport Co., Ltd., for permission' to increase miners' conces
sion fares. The Rhondda concern was granted permission to increase these fares by 25 per cent., and the Western Welsh company was allowed to abolish concession fares. The miners have made representations to the national executive of the Mineworkers' Union and an appeal against the decision is being considered. The Western Welsh concern is now to make a general application for higher charges.
Cardiff and Newport Corporations have both been granted increases applied for.
Outstanding applications include the following: Messrs. A. Skill. Notting-. ham; Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd.; United Counties Omnibus Co.,. Ltd.; City of Oxford Motor Services, Ltd.; Newbury and District Motor Services, Ltd.; Lincolnshire Road Car Co.. Ltd. (concerning over 250 routes); Derby Corporation (40 routes), and East Midland Motor Services, Ltd. A number of„these applications is caused by recent increases granted to Nottingham Corporation. Barton Transport, Ltd., has been granted increases, together with Eastern National Omnibus Co., Ltd. Nottingham is to apply for a sixth revision of fares.
In the West Midland Area, Milton Bus Service, Ltd., Wells Motor Services, Ltd., and Potteries Motor Traction Co., Ltd., all of Stoke-on-Trent, have applied for higher charges.
In the Western Area, applicants include Messrs. A. Millson of Andover, and Messrs. E. Clatworthy, of Tiverton. Bristol Corporation and Bristol Tramways have been granted the increases applied for. Decisions were reserved on the applications of the Western and Southern National companies, Wilts and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., and Hants and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd.