A Mixed Year for Western Welsh Omnibus Co.
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ALTHOUGH an improvement on the previous year's figures, the financial results for the Western Welsh Omnibus Co. Ltd. for the year ended March 31 last were again disappointing, said the chairman, Mr. E. L. Taylor, at the annual general meeting on Tuesday. Gross revenue, at £3.051,000, was some £100.000 below the figure anticipated— competition from personal transport and the operation of mini-buses, much of it illegal, continued and increased. The net profit of £105,473 represented an increase of £30,000 over 1962-63, said Mr. Taylor, and the company was thus able to put £25,000 to reserve, towards vehicle replacement costs.
After referring to wages and fares increases, the chairman said the company had little chance to defeat the law of diminishing returns and every time fares went up they knew they would lose passengers. Under constant pressure to save and economize, Western Welsh had increased vehicle sizes and extended oneman operation, while methods aimed at greater efficiency in the workshops included unit maintenance and the concentration of repair work at appropriate depots. Schedules were constantly being reviewed and revised, to cut unnecessary mileage and improve 0-ordination.
One step taken to attract new traffic, said Mr. Taylor, was the introduction of a new limited-stop service between Maesteg and Cardiff, jointly with the Rhondda Transport Co.; this showed considerable promise and would prove a boon to the local community in event of rail closures. He recorded Mil the South Wales Traffic Commissioners had given their approval to a joint application by Western Welsh and Crosville for an express service between Cardiff and Liverpool which would open up mid
Wales.
Extended holiday tours, which last year carried 6,906 passengers (a 15 per cent increase), had enjoyed another good season, said the chairman, but the ordinary bus services were suffering from mounting. traffic congestion and, at peak times, the point of total strangulation was visibly approaching.
The company received 39 new vehicles during ihe year-21 Leyland PD2 and five A.E.C. Regent double-deckers, nine Leyland Tiger Cub single-deckers and four Leyland Leopard coaches.
The success of a cheap holiday runabout ticket issued in co-operation with British Railways had proved so successful, said Mr. Taylor, that a similar facility was being introduced this 'ear in conjunction with Red and White in the Usk, Severn and Wye Valleys.