Hull's One-man Buses May Peg Fares : Other Operators Apply
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WHILST many bus companies and Vic municipal undertakings are planning to cover increased wage costs by higher fares or shorter stages, Hull Transport Committee have decided 'to seek the co-operation of their platform staff in reducing expenditure. They hope to find support for running a large number of one-man-operated buses, a few of which have been in service for some time.
"It would be a big saving to us, without any man being displaced from his job," said Aid. J. Henson, the committee's chairman, this week.
Ald. Henson said that one-man buses were the only hope left of avoiding higher fares. The corporation faced a deficit of £100,000, and it was vital that effective economies should be introduced.
W. for Huddersfield?
Huddersfield Transport Committee will apply for a fd. increase on the present trolleybus minimum fare oi 24d, which, it is hoped, will cover the extra £31,000 a year they have to find. Sheffield will ask for permission to add id. to existing 2d. and 3d. bus and tram fares, and will want children's fares to be raised to half the adult fare.
Darlington however will not seek any alteration. The last fare increase was in 1954 and the transport committee have decided to try. to absorb the extra expenditure.
The Leeds undertaking will seek fare increases rather than cuts in nonpaying services, to recover the extra £88,000 a year in wages. They will ask the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners to permit a c i. increase in the present 2-W. fare—described as "a painless extraction" by Aid. J. Rafferty, chairman of
the Transport Committee. .
He told the city council that only 64 per cent. of bus routes in Leeds were paying their way. With an expected £8,500 a year increase in craftsmen's wages, higher fares were the only answer.
End of Concessions?
Oldham's application will include a proposal for the abolition of workers' cheap fares. The undertaking will also seek a 4d. minimum on limited-stop services, together with cross-boundary adjustments.
Rochdale Corporation will probably seek a 2d. minimum, together with a new basis for early-morning fares. This would represent the single fare plus id for the return journey.
Major companies with fare applications pending include the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., Lincolnshire Road Car Co., Ltd.. and East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd.
The Birmingham company want to add id. to single fares between 2d. and 61d., Id. to those between 7d. and Is. 11-W.: and 2d. to fares over 2s n2 These amendments would also apply to scholars' return tickets, On workmen's and miners' returns between 8-Id. and Is. 51d., they want to add 2d., with a 3d. increase on higher fares. .
Details of the Lincolnshire company's proposals are to be announced later, but they will be designed to bring in more than £70,000 a year.