More 2d. Minimum Fares Likely: Ribble Grant: New Applications
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APPLICATION has now been made by Blackpool Corporation for permission to vary fare tables to provide, among other things, for a 2d. minimum fare. An application having a similar effect is expected to be made soon by Nottingham Corporation.
Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., and its joint operators have now received permission to advance ordinary and special return-ticket rates.
As a result of the grants of the North-Western and Northern Licensing Authorities, Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., may now add Id. to lid, return tickets, 2d. and 3d. to Is, fares and 3d. on return fares over is. Id. Return fares on express services may also be increased to 25 per cent. above the prewar figure. Slight variations have been made by the Licensing Authorities to the range of increases applied for..
Lancashire Increases Lancashire United Transport, Ltd., Leigh Corporation and other joint operators have also been granted increases with slight reservations, affecting 30 services out of a total of 123. Single fares between 21d. and 6id. go up by Id. or Id. and those over 6id. by Id. Workmen's and return tickets are also increased by id. to 3d.
Nottingham Corporation, which put the sixth increase in fares granted since 1939 into operation in May last year, is now considering a new application. This time the proposals are that the minimum adult _single fare should become 2d., that the 21d. and 31d. fare stages be abolished and those above 40. be increased by id., and that children's Id., 2d. and 3d. fares should cover the 2d.-5d. adult fare range. It is also suggested that the workmen's return tickets should be replaced by early-morning cheap fares.
In the years 1949-1951, the undertaking incurred deficits totalling £153,594; the provisional estimate for the year ended March, 1952, shows a further loss of £3,273. To meet past deficits, the accumulated balances and reserves of the undertaking have been drawn on and are now exhausted. On current rates, it is expected that the present year will produce a •loss of £74,000.
Seeking Another £135,277 Since the last increase in charges was authorized, costs have risen by £202,344. The higher rates granted in May • last year were expected to augment revenue by £116,000. Nego-'
tiations for wage increases proceeding will, if they succeed, add another £140,000 a year to the undertaking's
expenses. If the proposed new increases are granted, revenue will advance by £135,277 a year, only a quarter of which would become available this year.
The application made by Blackpool Corporation provides for the establishment of a 2d, minimum single adult fare, the removal of odd id. units from the adult fare tables and the addition of Id. to all return tickets. It is also
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suggested that the availability of workmen's tickets be extended to include all people earning up to £6 a week. Four' services operated jointly with Lytham St. Annes Corporation, and 41 worked• independently are affected.
A new application, calling for Id. and Id. additions to single fares from 2d. to 6d., additions of Id. to 6d. on return fares and new concession rates, has been made by Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd. Over 100 routes are affected.
• Wigan Corporation and four joint operators have also applied for higher charges. These provide for an increase of the minimum single adult fare from Id. to lid., increases of id. and Id. on certain 3d. fares and the addition of Id. to all adult single fares over 31d. Various modifications to workmen's and children's fares are also proposed, and 44 services are affected.
In addition, 14 other services in the Wigan Corporation area, run by Lancashire United Transport, Ltd., and its joint operators, are the subject of applications to bring charges into line.
The application of Birmingham Corporation for higher rates is to be heard next Wednesday. A deficit of £390,308 was incurred in the past year and a further loss of £565,918 is expected, which will bring the accumulated loss to £956,238.
Salford Faces £175,199 Loss An estimated deficit this year of £175,199 will, it is believed, require Salford Corporation to apply for new fares. The transport committee has recommended that fares be revised on the basis of 0.85 'mile for 1d., 'instead of Id. a mile.
Rotherham Corporation, which, as reported last week, is applying for the first change in the basic fares charged for 28 years, has already used up the reserve fund of £300,000. In the current year, costs have risen by a total of £37,434, of which £14,815 is accounted for by the increased price of fuel.
The abolition of contract tickets is proposed by Stockton-on-Tees Corporation. Out of 31m. passengers a month, it was stated recently, only 343 were contract-ticket holders.
Bradford Corporation has now applied for permission to withdraw early-morning workmen's fares on 37 services. It is proposed that ordinary fares be charged.
The northern area of the Municipal Passenger Transport Association has referred to the National Joint Industrial Council the question of payment to transport staffs for early morning duties.