Express Questions
Page 3
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ONE of the brighter spots in the passenger world has been the V./continuing upswing in coach travel, which includes express services. Indeed, to many operators such work brings in a substantial revenue each year which, basically, is less affected by increasing costs than the much more precariously-balanced stage• services. Express facilities are cheap, reasonably frequent and (as a rule) enjoy the use of modern vehicles.
However, the results of some random trips made on express services by members of the editorial staff of "The Commercial Motor" (see pages 58-61) raise one or two questions. Are fares too cheap? Are terminal and intermediate-stop facilities adequate (some, certainly, are superb; some are not of the same standard)? Would fewer seats, giving more legroom and comfort, attract more passengers? Perhaps, overall, the big question is whether some operators regard their express passengers as "third-class "• fares, and so tailor the services. Is enough done publicity-wise, to tell the general public what facilities are available (particularly booking agencies), and to kill off this "cheap and nasty" stigma which to some extent still surrounds the public impression of coach travel? Is the Ministry of Transport artificially restricting development by over-stringent requirements?
These, and similar, questions have been asked by operators themselves from time to time. It seems opportune to answer them whilst express services are on the up-grade.