HOLIDAY COACHES AT COLWYN BAY.
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Ilow Conditions at This Resort Differ From Those at Llandudno.
BY REASON of the close proximity of Colwyn Bay to Llandudno, the coach business of the former is to some extent overshadowed by that of the latter, the chief proprietors in Llandudno having their agencies and booking-offices at Colwyn Bay. The most progressive motor coach owners in Colwyn Bay are I. Fred Francis and Sons, Ltd., who operate the "Grey de Luxe" coaches.
The' town has about 15 coaches,the biggest proportion of which are awned by the company mentioned,who specialize in the smaller type of vehicle fitted with pneumatic tyres. Their fleet consists of five 30-seater A.E.C. and Leyland buses operating between Colwyn Bay and Llandudno and Abergele, three 23-seater Leyland coaches, and one 28-seater, and an 18-seater Daimler. On the day of our visit a new single-seater motorbus had been put into operation—and it was needed to cope with the immense passenger traffic.
Colwyn Bay .caters tor an entirely different clientele from Llandudno, and, being more of a. holiday centre for families, Messrs. Francis endeavour to meet their requirements, not only by operating pneurnatic-tyred coaches, but at fares which are actually cheaper than those at Llandudno, where solid-tyred vehicles hold sway.
• Fares show a, considerable reduction on last year, and on Bank Holiday, so soon as it became evident that people had not the money to spend as they have had in previous years, the 10s. fares were dropped to 8s. 6d. and the 21s. fares to 17s. 6d. These lower fares, however, will not be observed longer than is necessary, and so soon as trade showssigns of • picking up, rates will be stabilized at something like one-sixth less than last year.
A Motor Coach Station for Brighton.
All visitors to Brighton—and many who have not been to this London-bythe-sea resort, for that matter—who are familiar with the Aquarium will be interested in the proposal which has recently been mooted to lease the site on which this white elephant stands to the Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., who made an offer to the town council to take over the site on a 60 years' lease at £3,250 a year. Seeing that the corporation has been endeavouring to rid itself of this large municipal attraction for more than three years, it seems likely that the offer of the bus company will be accepted.
Ih place of the present building, the company's proposals include the erectionof a large motor coach station .(they run many coaches themselves), with attendant palm garden, tea-rooms and openair palm court. The company, it is stated, are prepared to spend E40,000 upon the scheme.
Samuelson's 1922 Programme.
The official opening of the new booking office of the Samuelson Transport Co., Ltd., at 110, Charing Cross Road, London, W.O. 2, took place last. Wednesday, when Sir Reginald H. Brade, C.C.B., outlined the company's programme for the present coaching season. Li the main the services run last season will be continued during this, regular daily services being run to ad the im
portant seaside towns within a radius of approximately 90 miles from London. In addition to these there will be I number of long-distance tours, occupying from four to thirteen days. Al special feature of these i9 that they are run at an inclu
sive charge 5s. per day; regardless of the distance. This charge includes first-class hotel accommodation, valet service and luggge tender, and the guidance of an experienced courier, as well as gratuities to the hotel staff, The first of these tours commenced on Sunday, June 10th, and they will be continued every Sunday until further notice. This particular tour is of six days to North Wales and the Welsh Mountains, involving a mileage of 448. Other tours will be run every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday to Shakesspeare's country and the Wye Valley, Peak District, Devon and Cornwall, North Wales, the English Lakes and Yorkshire Moors, the Highlands and the Trossachs respectively, each passenger being allowed 56 lb. of luggage, for the carriage of which arrangements have been made with Carter, Paterson.
The Samuelson fleet now consists of 67 coaches, including those of the British Ex-officers' Travel Association.
A Neat 12-seater Coach.
WE PUBLISH on this page an illustration of a neat little coach body fitted on a standard VSC 30-cis'-t. Vulcan chassis. This particular vehicle, which was built throughout in the
Vulean works, is capable of seating 12 people---four in the back row and eight in the four double seats, which are of the semi-bucket type. The driver is quite isolated, and can only be spoken to by passengers with a certain amount of inconvenience to the latter. The upholstery is carried out in real leather, and the build of the seat gives passengers the maximum of comfort. The door giving access to the seats is, as will be seen, very wide, whilst the step is broad and allows easy entrance, A one-man type of hood is fitted, which, when not in use, is supported on the body itself, and when side curtains, which are provided, are brought into use, the occupants of the coach are fully protected from inclement weather. A luggage compartment is built into the body at the rear, access to which is gained by two folding doors provided with a lock and key. The coach has an electric lighting system incorporated in its equipment, whilst its wheels are shod with Dunlop supercushion tyres.
The vehicle is in the service of Mr. L. M. Andrews, of Brighton, and is to be seen in daily use at this seaside resort and along the South Coast.