Operating Aspects of
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Passenger Transport
FIRST APPLICATIONS UNDER BLOCK LICENSING SCHEME
111HE first applications under the scheme drawn up by Yorkshire Coach Owners, Ltd., which provides for the block licensing of excursions and tours, came before the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners, last week. The applications were those of Y.C.O. members in the Barnsley district.
Several modifications in the conditions of licences which were asked for raised the question of the operation, under excursion and tour licences, of traffic which has hitherto come under the category of contract work. There was strong opposition from the railway companies and railway-associated bus companies, but no independent operators objected.
Regarding a requested modification that excursion and tour operators should be allowed to pick up pre-booked parties within a radius of three miles from any of their licensed starting points, instead of for four miles only along the outward route, Mr. J. Keeling, secretary of Yorkshire Coach Owners, Ltd., said this was essential if operators were to be allowed to operate what had been hitherto termed contract work and keep within the law.
After much discussion, Mr. Keeling agreed that operators would not attempt to pick up a party unless 75 per cent. of the seating capacity of a vehicle had• been booked in advance for passengers who were to be picked up at one specified point within the three-mile radius.
The representative of the railway companies, who opposed this and all the other proposed modifications, said he could see many loopholes of which advantage could be taken by operators. The chairman pointed out that particulars showing the bona fides of the parties would be submitted to the Commissioners before the operation of the services.
Another modification asked for was that the maximum number of vehicles allowed under a licence should be according to traffic demands. The chairman said that difficulties in this connection might be overcome by providing for special applications for such occasions. In view of this hint, the matter was not further pressed. Submitting a proposed modification that the services may be operated all the year round, Mr. Keeling said again that this was necessary if operators were to keep within the law. Some' winter services, such as those to football matches, hitherto operated under contract, must now be classed as excursions and tours.
The railway companies' representative complained that the proposed modified coach fares were too low, although the railways themselves have recently reduced fares. The combine companies agreed to the fares, except in a few cases, where their own particular stagecarriage services were affected.
Mr. Keeling submitted that if the licences were granted with the proposed modifications, there would he no extra vehicles on the road, and services would be better regulated, by reason of the co-ordinated scheme which it was intended to put into operation. Moreover, price-cutting would be eliminated, as practically every service would be operated under licence.
The Commissioners said that they would consider, with the applications, the proposed modifications, and they reserved their decision.