EASTERN COMMISSIONERS' DECISIONS ON LONDON COACH SERVICES
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Operators Last to Institute Services Generally Regarded as Intruders A STATEMENT occupying 15 pages 21. of foolscap has been issued by the Eastern Commissioners on the subject of London coach services.
Dealing first with the Riekmansworth route, the Green Line backing for a 30-minute service, as commenced on January 31st, 1931, is refused, as Mr. C. P. Holmes (West London Coaches) has run between Aylesbury and London and Chesham and London (both routes via •Rickmansworth) since 1928 and 1929 respectively.
As regards services extending north of Watford, a backing has been granted to Red Rover Saloon Coaches, Ltd., for the Aylesbury-London route, and a licence will be granted to the Premier Omnibus Co. (Watford), Ltd., to operate a eo.brdinated Hemel Hempstead London express service. Green Line Coaches, Ltd., is to be granted a backing for an hourly express service on this route. The backing application by the Green Line concern for the Tring-Godstone line is refused.
Dealing with the Watford-London route, the Commissioners state that receipts on the Green Line service, started December 18th, 1929, rose from 8d. per mile to 10.3d. in 1931. The service of Bucks Express (Watford), Ltd., took .11,78d. per mile in September, 1930, the figure falling to 7.82d. in March, 1931, receipts for the latter year showing a decrease of £100 per month over 1930. Each operator will he granted a 30-minute service, every second journey of the Green Line being extended to Hemel Hempstead, as stated above. The Green Line WatfordGolder's Green service will not be licensed.
Green Line Coaches, Ltd., started a service between Harpenden and Laudon on September 20th, 1930, and now applies for a 80-Minute frequency between St. Albans and London, alternate coaches proceeding northward to Harpenden and to Dunstable. Beaumont's Safeway Coaches have operated between Dunstable and London since July, 1929. A half-hourly Green Line service between London and St. Albans is all that the Commissioners will permit. The Green Line concern started a Welwyn-Charing Cross service on September 17th, 1930, extending it to Hitchin on January 14th, 1931, and now applies for a half-hourly service to Stevenage, alternate coaches proceeding northward to Hitchin and to Baldoek. An hourly service to Baldock is operated by the Queen Line and hourly services to Hitchin are run by Birch Brothers, Ltd., and Beaumont's Safeway Coaches. The Commissioners will grant a Green Line backing between London and Welwyn only, with half-hourly frequency. Regent Motor Services started an hourly Hertford-London service in August, 1929, and receipts in 1930 were 8.62d. per mile These have been reduced, mainly by competition, to 4.46d. in July-September, 1931. Skylark Motor Coaches, Ltd., commenced an hourly service in November, 1929; receipts have steadily decreased. Green Line Coaches, Ltd., commenced an hourly service in November, 1930; in December receipts were 5.6d. and by August, 1931, they had risen to 10.2d The Green Line backing is, therefore, refused. Backings are granted to the Regent and Skylark concerns, .single fares less than 1s. not being permitted. These companies have, however, been taken over by Green Line Coaches, Ltd.
Between Bishop's Stortford and Lou don the Green Line started operation on October 1st, 1930, and receipts up to March, 1931, averaged 4.5d., reaching 9.1d. in August Acme Pullman Services, Ltd., started on October 5th, 1929, extending to Stanstead in NOVall• bar and to Newmarket in December. Frequency was increased to 31 journeys
daily by May, 1930. Receipts have fallen, since the Green Line service started, only from 12.49d. to 11.13d. The Commissioners concur with the Metropolitan Commissioner in permitting a Green Line service so far as Epping. The Acme service will be licensed subject to the deletion of aertain small fares.