Operating Aspects of
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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
SHOULD operators of express services to London take passengers at excursion rates for the Coronation festivities? This issue was debated before the East Midland Traffic Commissioners, at Leicester. on March 4.
Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., sought permission to run excursions from Leicester and a number of Leicestershire centres to London. The same company, the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., and Majestic Express Motors, Ltd., also applied to pick up passengers at excursion rates on express services for visits to London for the Coronation.
The L.N.E., L.M.S. and G.W.R. companies objected, and United Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., opposed the application of the Birmingham concern in respect of the projected Leicester excursions.
Mr. R. Cope, on behalf of the bus companies, said that most of the excursions were of the twoor three-day type. It would, he said, be practically impossible to put on extra vehicles,on Coronation . Day, and there might be difficulty in operating normal services, For the railways, evidence was given by Mr. R. Wall, oft-the G.W.R., who said that the railways objected to the applications on principle, although they had fare-protection on Coronation Day.
Mr. J. H. Stirk (chairman): " Which principle? Is it the railway principle, or the principle which they think should be applied to road operators? "
Witness: " We give reduced fares on an ordinary train only when we are in a position to deal with the traffic. We consider that people who are prepared to pay full ordinary fare should have full advantage of ordinary facilities, and we do not open to reducedfare passengers until we can say that the ordinary-fare passenger will not be inconvenienced."
Mr. Stirk : "Quite frankly, that leaves me stone cold, because I regularly come down from Nottingham to Leicester on a day ticket, travelling cheek by jowl with those paying ordin ary fare. How does that square with your principle?"
Witness : "For an event like this, special facilities Should be provided."
" I am really wondering why the railway companies are here at all, to-day," remarked Mr. Stirk, later in the hearing.
Witness: "We have objected in other places and we felt we must carry through."
Mr. Stirk: " Just a pious hope? What do you suggest we should do to-day? "
Witness: "I thought you would refuse to allow excursion fares without excursion services."
Mr. Stirk " If I go to London, I take a monthly ticket."
Witness : "We regard monthly returns as ordinary fares now."
"And you think we should refuse the 'Midland Red' something which you have found beneficial yourselves? " Yes."
The Commissioners granted the applications to pick up exclusion passengers on express services, and granted the "Midland Red" applications for excursions from a number of towns and villages in Leicestershire, except the Leicester-London application.
"RED AND WHITE" BUYS BIG LONDON STATION.
WITH the purchase of the London Terminal Coach Station in Clapham Road, Red and White Services, Ltd., materially strengthens its London interests, which already include the recently acquired Blue Belle Coaching Services, Ltd., General Travel Agency (London), Ltd., a flourishing private-hire business and various goods services.
The station is the London terminus of ,the Red and White company's London-South Wales services and its Metropolitan private-hire business. It is intended to snake the station, which covers an area of nearly two acres, one of the most important centres in London for goods, as well as for passenger, services.
-SPECTATORS" HURT IN -PRIVATE FIGHT"
PIA FARES " race " between the railways and an associated road company engaged the attention of the North-Western Traffic Commissioners, in Manchester, last Friday.
Mr. John Eccles, of Macclesfield, objected to the renewal of authority being given to the North-Western Road Car Co., Ltd., to charge is. return on its scheduled service from Macclesfield to Buxton. These cheap excursions, he said, had ruined the businvss of the excursion and tour operators in 2s, 6d. circular trips to Buxton. Mr. H. Clark, traffic manager of the North-Western concern, explained how it all came about. The company suddenly lost its big business from Macclesfield to Buxton and crowded trains were found to be taking people at Is. return, notwithstanding that the distance by rail was about twice that by road. The Commissioners permitted the charging of the same fare by bus as by rail. The result was that the company was running as many as 17 buses, with 300 passengers, on these special excursions, hut, like the other operators, it was doing little with the 2s. 6d. circular trip,
Mr. W. Chamberlain, chairman, said it had not been anticipated that this would be the result of the fares competition between the railway company and the North-Western Road Car Co., Ltd., but further consideration would be given to the subject.
APPROACH TO COLCHESTER?
IT is rumoured that a large bus company is making an offer for the purchase of Colchester Corporation's transport undertaking.
It will he recalled that, for some time, Mr. John F. Heaton, chairman of Thomas Tilling, Ltd., was negotiating for Southend-on-Sea Corporation's undertaking, but recently this Essex authority indicated its refusal to sell.