Bus Operators Budget for Thin Times : More Increases in North
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VVITH the announcements by the general managers of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., and the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., . Ltd., that recently approved increases in fares would almost certainly be followed shortly by new applications for variations, the possibility of a 2d. minimum fare throughout the country becomes likely. Higher wages for platform staff will undoubtedly result in a new wave of applications for higher charges.
Bournemouth Corporation, which has already reduced trolleybus mileage by 100,000, last week approved the preparation of new fares schedules, bearing in mind the possibility of a 2d. minimum.
liebble Costs £51,000 Up Increased costs amounting to £51,000 in the two years 1950-1952, were referred to in the hearing of an application by Hebble Motor Services, Ltd. Granting raised ordinary single and return fares, the Yorkshire. Licensing Authority also permitted the addition of Id. to workmen's return tickets up to 6d.
Hanson's Buses, Ltd., Huddersfield, was also granted modified fares, which now are parallel with those charged by Huddersfield Corporation. The minimum charge is now 2d. Higher fares on certain routes were refused, It was stated at the hearing of the concern's application that an accumulated deficit of £28,128 had been incurred since 1949. Higher charges had been authorized in 1948, but the financial position continued to deteriorate until the coach fleet had been reduced this year from 40 to 27.
The ease made by City of Oxford Motor Services, Ltd., to raise the minimum return fare from 6d. to Is. 6d. and to establish workmen's return fares on the basis of 0.85d. per mile has been rejected by the East Midland Licensing Authority. Discussions concerning a general increase of fares are continuing. ' It was stated that the proposals for reducing the return ticket scale would have produced an extra £9,000 a year in revenue.
Bradford Seeks 24. Minimum Bradford Corporation, which recently presented its case for new fares schedules with a 2d. minimum single ticket, except for early morning concession rates, was told by the Yorkshire Licensing Authority that even after putting the new rates into effect, the undertaking would still face a deficit. Another application would be needed. An early decision on both motorbus and tralleybus fares was promised.
The same Authority later heard the application of Rotherham Corporation. This proposed the abolition of prepaid discount and return tickets, special miners' concession rates and other variations. A loss of £14,000 was . expected at the end of the current year on present scales. Again a rapid decision was promised. Ipswich Corporation has also decided to prepare another series of proposals to raise charges, .which will also include the establishment of a 2d, minimum ticket in certain cases. There were now no -reserve funds and the working capital of the undertaking has to come out of the general rate fund. Last year the undertaking incurred a deficit of £16,000; this year a loss of £20,000 is likely Certain services may be withdrawn in the interest of economy.
West Hartlepool Plan
The addition of id. to all single tickets up to 41d. and of id. thereafter has been proposed by West Hartlepool Corporation. This was decided recently after a plea had been made for the retention of the Id. ticket, To remain solvent, the undertaking needed an extra £30,000 a year Last year a loss of £4,592 had been incurred. West Hartlepool still retains the i d. children's ticket.
To bring charges into line with those of South Shields Corporation, Sunderland District Omnibus Co., Ltd., has applied for permission to restrict the issue of workmen's tickets to the period up to 9 a.m.
Leicester Corporation, Kemp and Shaw, W., Windridge, Sons and Riley, Ltd., Messrs. Gibson Bros„ and 18 other local operators have applied for permission to bring certain fares into line with the new rates to be charged by the Midland Red."
Co-ordination of this kind with regard to the new charges granted to the Lincolnshire Road Car Co., Ltd., and Leicester Corporation is being sought by a number of operators, including B.M.M.O.