New Charges for Portsmouth and North.Western
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ON Good Friday, charges on the services operated by Portsmouth Corporation and Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., in the joint transport area, were increased by reducing stage
lengths. The 11d. minimum charge now applies to one stage, the 2d. ticket provides for two stages, and so on, so that the greatest increase is borne by the long-distance passenger.
On the previous day, NorthWestern Road Car Co., Ltd., also introduced a new scale of charges. Apart from lid. and 2d. tickets, all fares have been raised to offset additional expenses totalling £150,000 a year. Since the application was heard, fuel costs have increased by £70,000 a year.
Fares charged by City Coach Co., Ltd., taken over by Westcliff-on-Sea Motor Services, Ltd., on February 16, were also raised last week.
Barton Application Fails The East Midland Licensing Authority has rejected the application of Barton Transport, Ltd., to abolish children's half-fare vouchers available on 19 services.
Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., last week applied to the Northern Licensing Authority for permission to bring charges into line with those of Venture Transport, Ltd., on certain routes. The Licensing Authority observed that if the increases were granted now, they might stave off another application for a longer time. The application was granted.
Grimsby Corporation's application to advance fares on 15 services has now been published. It is proposed to establish a 2d_ minimum charge, and to add id. to the 21(.1., 3f., 41d. and 51d. tickets, as well as other variations.
L.U.T. Applies Involving 123 services and including routes operated jointly with nine other operators, a new application for higher charges has been filed by-Lancashire United Transport, Ltd., Atherton. Leigh Corporation has also asked for similar increases in respect of '10 services jointly operated with L.U.T.
The main points of the application are proposals to add id. to 21d. single tickets, kd. or Id. to those between 3d. and 61d., and id. thereafter. Ordinary return fares are similarly affected, the suggestion being that Id., 2d., or ati; should be added to fares from 3d. to lid., Is. to Is. lid., and over 2s. respec tively. Additions of Id. or 2d. to workmen's fares over 4d. are also proposed.
Warrington Corporation, for the second time in a year, is to apply for modified fares scales. It is proposed that adult single fares except the 11d. should bear an. extra id., and that the workmen's minimum charge be raised from 31d. to 4d. Since the last application was made in May, 1951, costs had risen by £27,000 a year, said the chairman of the transport committee last week.
Expecting a deficit of £14,000 in the year ended March 31 last, and a loss of £172,000 this year, Salford Corporation is to seek further fares increases. Higher charges introduced in 1950 augmented' annual revenue by £190,000, but since then fuel and wage costs alone have gone up by £153,148 a year.
New fares scales have been worked out by St. Helen's Corporation, and are to he put before the Licensing Authority. Bournemouth and Colchester Corporations are also considering further general revisions of fares.
Reluctant to propose further fare rises, Bolton. Corporation is considering reductions in services. The estimated deficit for the current financial year is £31,000. The abolition of workmen's fares is being reviewed.
HAULIERS TO BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS' DREFERENTIAL railway rates given X to two big Western Canadian oil companies are likely to put out of business many road hauliers who previously served the concerns. The Canadian Automotive Transportation Association has informed the Canadian Minister of Transport of their position.
The Association -has suggested that it be allowed to make submissions to the Board of Transport Commissioners, which regulates the railways. Haulage interests cannot do this at present because road transport is under provincial control.
U.T.A. USES FREE HAULIERS
THE road haulage service of the Ulster Transport Authority was "helped out" by sub-contracting vehicles of free hauliers—a "regular feature" of U.T.A. operations,—Mr. A. Morrison, chief officer (special duties) of the Authority, told the Northern Ireland Transport Tribunal last week. Sub-contractors were paid the charge to the customer less 10 per cent.
CROSVILLE'S NEW STATION.
A BUS station at King Street, tA Wrexham, is to be developed by Crosville Motor Services, Ltd. An experimental scheme of operation is expected to be started next month. About 7,000 departures a week on 40 s.rvices will be handled.
The general manager of Bradford Transport Department has been asked by the transport committee to prepare schemes for the operation of cross-city services.