Unauthorized Tours Advertised, Say Railways
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Wallace Arnold Apply for Excursion from Leeds to Ringway Airport to Connect with Air Tours
THE act of Wallace Arnold Tours Ltd., in advertising alleged unauthorized tours to get evidence for a licence, was strongly criticized by British Railways, at Leeds, last week. Wallace Arnold wanted the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners to grant a new excursion from Leeds to Ringway Airport, Manchester, which would connect with air tour's.
Mr. F. Marshall, for the company, said the conditions of their express licence from Leeds to the airport prevented their carrying passengers booked for inclusive coach-air tours. These tours were first offered last year, after Silver City Airways obtained a licence from the Air Transport Advisory Council, on behalf of Wallace Arnold, for charter flights from Leeds or Manchester to Strasbourg.
In 1958, 187 passenger were carried on nine tours. Commitments for each round trip were about 000, and the most suitable aircraft for the tours were Viscounts, for which Yeadon Airport, Leeds, was not suitable. A total of 246 passengers had already been booked for 1959.
Mr. John Malcolm Barr, assistant managing director, said the most significant development in Continental holidays during the past four years had been the c18 coach-air tour. . Seventy-five per cent, of the business of the principle operators was now in this field.
There was no possibility of abstraction from British Railways, because if the application were refused the flight would be made from Leeds.
For the railways. Mr. J. Booth said the protective condition was inserted on the express licence because Wallace Arnold had already advertised coach-air tours from Ringway. They were granted a pilot scheme for individual bookings and were expressly excluded from holiday traffic.
Their present booking figures had been obtained by advertising an unauthorized service, and must be ignored, he contended. The published application would allow 642 departures from Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield each year, with possibilities of duplication and triplication. Passengers already travelling by
rail from the West Riding to Ringway would be abstracted.
Manchester Corporation were prepared to co-operate with British Railways and provide buses from the terminal stations.
Mr. Marshall replied that Wallace Arnold were already licensed for connecting services to Dover, Harwich, Newcastle, Stranraer and Holyhead for overseas tours. Sheffield United Transport held licences for Ringway and other airports, and the present application was no different in principle.
Railway timings were not suitable, and if Manchester Corporation catered for private parties they would be acting illegally. The railways' objection appeared to be on behalf of their associated company, Dean and Dawson, Ltd.. and other agencies.
With regard to advertising, a condition was printed in the company's brochure stating that tours were 'subject to the Commissioners' approval. On this type of tour it was essential to use the best method of transport for each stage of the journey, and Wallace Arnold were satisfied that it was by road.
The chairman, Maj. F. S. Eastwood. said decision would be reserved.