Councils Must Keep Workmen's Fares: Many Increases Granted
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ABOLITION of workmen's fares, sought by Leicester Transport Department, was, last week, refused by the East Midland Licensing Authority. In announcing this decision, he said that the suggested fares were unreasonable, and that it was regrettable that the application had been made in such a controversial way.
For the corporation it was stated that increases in the price of fuel and oil would cost the department an additional £41,854 a year. For the current year the deficit would be £41,200, of which 89 per cent. (£36,750) was caused by the increased price of fuel. The abolition of cheap return tickets would produce an additional £39,784. The corporation had felt that passengers travelling before 8 a.m, should share in the burden of higher fares, two increases having been granted since the war. The Licensing Authority explained that an immediate decision had been given to enable the corporation to make another application without further delay.
Newcastle Application Fails
A similar application by Newcastleon-Tyne was also refused last week. The hearing took place in September, and permission has been granted to increase by id. ordinary single fares and workmen's fares over 3d.. 1 he Licensing Authority has suggested that the undertaking should consider reducing fares at off-peak periods.
Glasgow Corporation has now received permission to abolish the Id, fare and to replace it by a lid. minimum on trams and trolleybuses only. This change will result not so much in an increase in fares, but in a reduction in the number of stages per fare. The new rates are expected to be applied early in January. Permission has also been granted for the undertaking to re-introduce the hopper's concession fare, available from 9 a.m, to noon, and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Burton Granted Increase
Increases of id, on ordinary fares and ld. on workmen's returns were granted last week to Burton Corporation by the West Midland Licensing Authority. The lid, minimum is retained, and the new fares will come into force in January. Lat.; year the undertaking had a deficit of £4,246. If no increase were made, the losses of the undertaking would, it was stated, mean another shilling on the general rate.
Both Hull and Sheffield Corporations have been granted increases applied for. At Hull, fares, other than maximum fares, will be raised by id. on all trolleybus stages. On the motorbuses, charges are to be advanced by id: on intermediate stages. Concession fares are only slightly affected, and the changes take place next Sunday. Fares on the routes of East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd., which coincide with Hull Corporation routes, will also be modified.
Tram and bus fares at Sheffield will B4
also go up on Sunday. All bus fares up to 4W. will be increased by A.
Fares at Wigan were raised last Sunday, the ld. single being retained, with a reduction of the stage length. Other fares were advanced by id. and ld.
The Scuth-Eastern Licensing Authority, in a decision announced last week, instructed George Robertson. Ltd., Longharn, to raise fares on certain tours to Southampton, to avoid undercutting of bus fares." Objections had been registered by Hants and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., and Royal Blue Services when the Longham concern had applied for the renewal of licences.
Accrington Corporation, applying for modified fares, informed the NorthWestern Licensing Authority, last week, that an accumulated surplus of £50,452 in 1949 would be converted into a deficit of £42356 by 1952. Proposals to alter fares would raise revenue by £21,513. The Id. fare would be retained under the corporation's proposals, but 16 fares would go up by id. and 16 would be reduced by id. Workmen's fares would be increased by Id. Certain increases meant doubling the existing fare, it was stated. There were 10 objectors.
Falling into Line
Fourteen routes are affected by the application lodged by the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., the purpose of which, it was stated, was to bring fares into line with those charged by other operators in the area.
Barton Transport, Ltd., Chilwell, Notts, has sought further revisions and Nottingham Corporation has applied for permission to increase workmen's return and children's fares.
Other applications have been lodged by the following East Midland operators; Carterton Coaches, Ltd., Lechlade, Glos; Messrs. J. A. Coales, Kettering; Messrs. Hayfield Bros., Newport Pagnell; Red Rover Omnibus Co., Ltd.. Aylesbury; Kemps Motor Services, Ltd., Trent Motor Traction, Ltd., and Eastern National Omnibus Co., Ltd.
Thames Valley Traction Co., Ltd., has sought revised season-ticket rates on 25 routes. Four routes are affected by an application of Birch Bros., Ltd.
Eastern Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., Corona Coaches, Ltd., and Geo. Ewer and Co., Ltd., have now been granted permission to increase coach fares by 7 1/7 per cent, in the Eastern Area.