CONSIDERATIONS IN MOTOR COACH OPERATIONS.
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Suggestions for Increasing the Mileage to Reduce Annual Charges.
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FINANCIAL difficulties have been the cause of a ruthless weeding out of many ,concerns engaged in motor coaching up to the end of last season, and this factor is bound to have its effect during the &omen which is approachingFrom this cause alone it is almost certain that the competition within the industry itself will not be so keen. The unscrupulous undercutter has been the man who has been weeded out., generally, and if the lessons of the past are taken to heart these in the industry should now understand more clearly than ever before the futility of uneconomic running. Nevertheless, although the competition within the industry is likely to be less; there is every possibility that coach owners will have to meet more competition from other forms of attraction, With regard to, casts, the railway companies can step in and cut prices below anything which could be done by the motor coach owner, and they are likely to use their great resouaces and organization to develop holiday traffic.
Railway officials, in cutting rates for holiday traffic, can do so with greater impunity than can motor coach owners. In the first place, any loss on eecursions is made up by other departments, whilst this work provides extra milea.g,e in a case where Enteral running costs are much less in proportion to establishment charges than they are, in the case of road haulage. Further, the establishment charges of the railways aeo not, materially affected -by running additional trains for excursion traffic, because few extra men are required beyond the ordinary station and permanent way staffs.
Last year demonsteated in no uncertain
fashion the effect of a short annual mileage in increasing running costs for coaches, and, although motor coaching and other holiday recreations are very materially affected by weather conditions, it cannot be said that a short season such as the coach enjoys to-day is satisfactory from any point of view. Certain expenses continue during mac Live periods and have their effect:on the charge which has to he made when the coach is in use, but little attention has been paid up to now to the question of spreading the activity over a greater portion of the year. Intensive use during the summer months is much more expensive, and much more arduous for the management and staff, than steady running spread over a longer period. Given a season of unsatisfactory weather, the opportunities for getting a return for the capital invested and meeting the standing charges are few enough, but if more opportunities could be found for the the use of the coach the position would be rendered much easier.
Large and Small Vehicles Compared.
Under proper accountancy methods . many owners of coaches of varying sizes have found that when comparisons are made there is 'very little difference in the proportionate profits OA between a large coach and a small one, in view of the fact that the small coach gets more opportunities for being. upon the, road, due to the smaller parties being easier to make up, than a large one. -In certain. circumstances, and circumstances . which obtain more probably in a wet
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season than a dry one, this s a feature hi favour of the small coach, but another pojnt whict. deserves considerably more attention than has been given to it as yet is the encouragement of parties at times at which they. .wouid not use the coach to-day.
The motor coach offers a pleasant means of transport on other occasions
than for country tours. It affords an opportunity for bodies of people to travel in a distinct party, without being broken up, and without interference from strangers. This is a distinct advantage on many occasions, but the public needs remindina-of the'fact. In coach advertising till point should be made that family and other parties are welcomed. To book a full load at one stroke is a great advantage compared with waiting for individual bookings at a stand, when there is always the risk of some empty seats.
Adverse weather conditions -easily
upset the plans of the coach owner and the coach passenger, and it is in the direction of ensuring protection in the cage of rain that attention should be given. Even with ordieary tourist traffic, if a passenger gets a thorough soaking it is unlikely that he, or she, will look to the coach for entertainment or enjoyment when there is any prospect of bad weather being encountered. Again, the possibilities of using the coach in the winter season are worthy of more consideration than is usually given to the matter. We are a hardy nation, and although it would be boo much to expect a party to go out in an open coach to enjoy beautiful scenery when the trees are bare, it is remarkable how many people seek outdoor relaxation in winter-time as a means of securing health and recreation.
Passenger Protection Most Important.
• Weather protection on coaches is a matter which has not got very far, however. The canvas hood is an unsatisfactory means of protection in really bad weather, but, on the other hand, there is a pretty general opinion that the public does not like enclosed coaches. To a certain degree this ma,y be true, but in consultation with tilt coach builder the coach owner Aciiild be able to find some way out of the difficulty. Some of the newer saloon coaches go a long way in this direction. The arrangemeat of the seats, the, shape of the windows, and the lighting arrangements in the roof are all vital points, and consideration should be given to the painting of the roof supports and the roof. Light colours do much 'to dissipate the idea of the passengers being accommo dated in an enclosed vehicle.
It is true that public opinion will have to be broken down to a certain. degree, but it is very likely that this would not be a. very difficult matter in view of the decided advantages in the way of extra comfort for passengers. Protection from rain is not the only advantage, as the passenger is protected' frem wind and cold, and there is less dust. The saloou coach enables passengers to dispense with an accumulation of wraps and coats, and the enclosed body allows greater luxury in the way of seating and fittings. The open motor•coach cannot be used in winter, but the enclosed coach provides a means for catering for theatre and other parties, in addition to runningi excursions in weather which is either doubtful or too bad for open coaches to be
The coat of an up-to-date'saloon body is undoubtedly heavier, than an. open coach of similar capacity, but the additional 'work which it would be passible to obtain by its means is well worth
considering. A new clientele is introduced to motor coaching, and this is an advantage in ordinary coach touring.