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Bus network in danger

10th November 1979, Page 115
10th November 1979
Page 115
Page 115, 10th November 1979 — Bus network in danger
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Your correspondent G. W. Brown takes me to task for commenting on unfair competition in the air travel business, but he really ought to get his facts right first.

At the recent CPT Conference I did not refer at all to "unfair" competition nor did I suggest that competition was a bad thing. What I did say and what I am prepared to repeat anywhere is that competitive pressure on lucrative routes has, in the air travel business, forced British Airways (and others) to withdraw from domestic services which they had hitherto supported by cross-subsidisation.

We in CPT foresee a similar situation on bus routes if unrestrained competition forces established operators to reduce their fares on profitable services to a level at which they can no longer afford to cross-subsidise unremunerative services. It will be for the public to judge whether the end result is better or worse, but it should be significant that even in the expanding business of air travel contraction of the route network has already taken place.

IAN CUNNINGHAM, General manager, Bournemouth Transport, Immediate past president CPT.