Four Operators to Raise Fares: More Applications Lodged
Page 40
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ALTHOUGH several company and municipal operators have managed in the past financial year to make a profit, rising costs are still compelling many undertakings to review their fare scales. Four operators last week received permission to advance charges and four have filed new applications. Others are considering what future steps to take.
Permission has now been given by the Eastern Licensing Authority for the Eastern Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., and the Norwich Omnibus Co., Ltd., to advance charges. The concerns had originally asked for permission to introduce new rates aimed at augmenting revenue by £195,000 a year, but the Authority asked for new scales to be worked out which would produce an additional £120,000 a year. Single and return fares are affected.
Morecambe Inereases Charges on 19 services operated by Morecambe and Heysham Corporation, of which six are operated jointly with Ribble Motor Services. Ltd., are to go up. Permission for the increases has been given by the North Western Licensing Authority. In consequence, single fares up to 21d. go up by id., with the exception of some single lid. fares which remain unchanged. rares above 3d. rise by Id. Concession fare scales are also modified.
The application of West Bridgford Urban District Council for permission to raise the statutory maximum fare to 4d. has failed. Approval has been given to the proposals for raising fares, the new scales having been established as the maximum. A new application for higher fares, following the loss of £7,795 incurred on last year's operation, is to be made.
From next Sunday, fares charged by Southena Corporation are to be raised. Belfast Corporation is to introduce new charges on the same day. The 2d. and 3d. tickets will, in future, cover a shorter journey, the universal children's Id. fare will be withdrawn, and the availability of workmen's fares will be limited.
Bristol Application
The applications of Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., and Gloucester Corporation to vary charges in the Gloucester area have now been published. A reorganization of the stage system is proposed, so that a single fare of lid, will cover stages up to 0.8 mile, a fare of 2d. will be valid up to 1.4 miles, and existing 2d. fares now valid for journeys OVCF 1.4 miles will go up by id. A minimum return fare of 4d. is proposed. Apart from the 28 joint services affected, 23 services run independently by Bristol Tramways arc concerned.
Cheltenham and District -Traction Co. has also applied for higher charges
on 14 services. It is believed that a revision of the stage lengths is proposed.
n6 Plymouth Corporation and Western National Omnibus Co., Ltd., propose to vary the regulations covering the issue of weekly tickets in their joint area, in which 102 services are affected. The suggestion is that the minimum weekly ticket will cost 6s. 5d. and no weekly tickets will be issued in respect of stages for which the single ticket is under 11d, or over 5s.
Over 50 services are affected by an application of Wilts and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., for permission to add Id.-5d. to some ordinary single fares and 4d.-1s. 4d. to return fares. It is also suggested that workmen's return fares, weekly return tickets, " two-returnjourney " weekly tickets and weekly tickets based on single fares under 5d. should be abolished.
Proposals made by Nottingham Transport Committee for the seventh application to increase charges have been withdrawn before the city council could consider them, No reason has been given. The committee has also decided not to proceed with plans to curtail certain services. These were estimated to save £14,000 a year in running costs.
Costs having gone up in the past year by £32,500, Southport Corporation is considering further advances in fares.
Salford Corporation is tO apply for revised fares scales based on modified stage lengths. It is proposed to adjust stages so that all are on a basis of 0.85 mile for a Id. The minimum fare would still be lid,