CIBS warn of cut
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price menace
has poured scorn on the initial LEADING independent coachman erformance of British Coachways. The Government presented oach operators with a combineon of opportunity and chalmge in the 1980 Transport Act, aid Peter Rogers, chairman of le coach and independent bus actor of the Confederation of ritish Road Passenger Transort (CIBS).
Speaking recently at the CIBS' ast Midlands Region annual inner in Newark, Mr Rogers 3id the heir apparent to the title Laker of the Roadways" had tarted a price war between ritish Coachways and the ational sector and had now quit le industry.
This, said Mr Rogers, was in ontrast to Sir Freddie himself rho stood by his costings and ommitments.
Mr Rogers believed there was little prospect of survival, let alone success, for any operator cutting prices in an industry when there is neither excess profit nor under-utilisation of assets.
Other industries, continued Mr Rogers, may have scope to trim overheads and costs to become more competitive but coach operators outgoings have been increased by legislation over which they have no control.
The phasing-out of new bus grants, the cost of implementing EEC drivers' hours and the tachograph, the increased licence fees from the 1980 Transport Act, and the cost of diesel all had to betaken into account.
Mr Rogers pleaded for equal treatment for fuel duty rebate across all services since, he said, psv, as opposed to car travel, shows quantifiable benefits in terms of energy saving.