Co-ordination Saves £30,000: Luton Needs £17,500 More
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PROPOSALS aimed at increasing pooled revenue by £35,040 a year, were put before the Metropolitan Licensing Authority this week by Luton Corporation and United Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd. It was stated that the corporation undertaking was incurring a loss of £17,250 a year, and that by the end of the current financial year, the accumulated deficit would be £85,000 unless fares were increased.
Decision was deferred, the Licensidg Authority being informed that a report prepared by a firm of industrial consultants retained by the corporation would be sent to him.
It was proposed that half the fares on the 750 fare stages operated by the Iwo undertakings in the co-ordinated area should go up by Id., whilst the highest-denomination fares would rise by Id.
Less than Pre-war If the increases were granted, 114 stages would still be at pre-war rates and 21 at less than pre-war. Thirtyeight per cent—of the fares would be 331 per cent. higher than before the war, 24 per cent. between 331 and 50 per cent, above pre-war levels, and 19 per cent, would be more than 50 per cent, higher than pre-war.
The co-ordination agreement between the undertakings had saved the corporation £30,000 a year, and since it was put into effect its 1949. the utilization factor returned by the corporation vehicles, of which 10 out of 60 were over 13 years old, had improved by 27.7 per cent. Since charges were last increased two years ago, operating costs had gone up by £44,000 a year, mainly because of higher wages (up by £18,875 a year) and higher fuel costs (up by £16,410). Duty on fuel was now costing £30,000 a year. The corporation's operating costs were now 31.5d. per mile.
United Counties' representatives declared that the concern's wages bill alone had risen by £129,000 a year since the last fares increase was granted. Operating costs throughput the concern's territory were 20d. per mile.
Another £94,000
Coventry Transport Department expects revenue to be augmented by £94,000 a year by the new rates granted last week by the West Midland Licensing Authority. Fares will be raised on September 28, the second time this year, for charges were last advanced two days before the Budget in March. It was the • additional tax on fuel which provoked the need for further increases, it was stated at the hearing.
The increases granted include the addition of id. to the present 4d. fare, of Id. to the Rd. and 41d. return fares, the abolition of the 2d. return ticket • and an addition of 2d. to return tickets between 5d. and Is. Id. It was stated that economies in the region of £75,000 a year had been made.
Glasgow Corporation 'has now applied for permission to revise fare A32 scales so as to discontinue the ld, minimum charge. It is proposed that the minimum charge should be 2d. throughout the system. It is also suggested that the availability of the 4d. ticket should be reduced by one stage.
Aberdeen Corporation has decided to seek a 2d. minimum charge. Reductions in frequencies and a 20-per-cent. increase in the cost of season tickets are also suggested, and the Id. ticket will be retained as an off-peak fare if the application to be made is successful. It was stated at a council meeting last week that if the proposals be approved, the undertaking would be free of debt by March, 1954.
Revised fares for children and permission to bring charges into line with those of Southern and Western National Omnibus companies on two routes are sought by Wilts and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd.
Before applying for new fares. Aberdare Urban District Council is to circularize local trade unions and other bodies asking for their observations on the proposals. It was stated recently -That the estimated loss for the year ending March, 1953, would be £16,803. Fares had to be increased or the general rate increased by about 3s. in the £.