PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
MOTORBUS versus MOTOR COACH. ,
Has One Type of Vehicle Affected the Takings of the Other ?
Tr AVE the remarkable developments
in motorbus services adversely affected, to any extent, the fortunes of motor coach proprietors? In considering this question it is impossible to ignore the obvious fact that motorbus communications, especially during the last few months, have opened up the country in an astounding manner, and, although modified services are maintained in the winter, in the summer they are so amplified that even remote traffic contingencies can be easily provided for. Not only that, but the summer. services are so well supported that some of the leading provincial corn-ponies can afford to offer cheap tickets, the„price of which compares favourably with the lowest rates, offered by the railway companies.
, Remote beauty spots, hitherto only freq,pented by motor coach, car or cycle, have been rendered more accessible to the public by the motorbus, which, running to time-table, has cut across the enterprise of the motor coach owner, who, at one time, found singlesent bookings to the same destinations a profitable line of activity.
The majority of the scheduled journeys, even in the winter months, constitutes an all-the-year-round advertisement for the amplified services of the Rummer season, so much so that it need not be a matter of surprise that considerable success has attended the operations of motorbus companies generally. Then, again, the marked improvements which have been made in body design, particularly in regard to the comfort provided for passengers, have had much to do with the increased —and increasing—popularity of the bus. It is unnecessary to enumerate the various features incorporated. in modern bus bodies to ensure ample com-• fort for road travellers, but suffice it to say that seats have been much improved and that the modern motorbus gives comfort every bit the equal of that provided by the average 28-seater motor coach.. • Some coach owners have been showing preferences for totally enclosed vehicles. The outstanding point in favour of coaches of this type is that they are a very suitable all-the-yearround unit, but whether they will be a factor in retaining for the coach owner traffic that, at one time, was almost exclusively his, must continue to be a matter for conjecture.
The motorbus has very largely reduced to a system the uncertainties of motor coaching, and by averaging out Profitable routes against the unprofitable ones has achieved a pronounced success.
There is one department of motor coaching, i.e., private party work, which is not likely to pass out of the reach of tile "coach owner. If he has 'sufficient vehicles available, it is probable that in the summer months there will always he work in this direction that Will fall to him. But, then, the question arises: Supposing it does, having regard to the fact that motorbuses cover many profitable motor coach routes, thus limiting the possibilities of single-seat bookings by motor coach, will the work be sufficiently profitable?
Greater resource will be demanded from motor coach owners in the forthcoming season if the industry is to reassert itself. In the end their success will he largely determined by economic standards, especially so far Os owners running from industrial towns are concerned. ,