Decision Reserved in Yello way—
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Premier Travel Joint Applications
DECISION was reserved by the chairman of the North Western Traffic Commissioners, Mr, F. Williamson, on joint applications by Yelloway Motor Services, Ltd., and Premier Travel, Ltd., to run express services from various points in Lancashire to Clacton-on-Sea. The hearing took place at Manchester last week, the first part of the proceedings being reported in The Commercial Motor of April 14.
Mr. H. Allen, general manager of Yelloway, described the situation as " one which has grown up behind my back." The passengers had started to travel on Yelloway coaches as far as Leicester, then taking a Premier vehicle to Clacton. The new services would provide through facilities and omit the change.
Restricted Duplication Holidaymakers_ used the Yelloway Lancashire-London services to travel to Leicester but, as duplication on these was restricted, Many bookings had to be refused. If the present situation was allowed to exist the London services might become distorted when catering for Clacton passengers. The vehicle allowance requested was eight departures normally, with 16 at peak times.
Replying to Mr. W. Robinson, objecting for W. Robinson and Son, Ltd., Great Harwood, Mr. Allen denied that the essence of the applications was to add more facilities to the London licence.
Abstraction from London Traffic Mr. G. Timmins, objecting for British Railways, said that the services would abstract from their London traffic. There had been no evidence of passengers having difficulty travelling to London. Mr. Robinson said that it was no real hardship to change coaches, and most coach stations had good refreshment and waiting facilities. Leicester must be an exception to this rule and conditions all) , ought to be improved to enable passengers to wait in comfort.
Mr. F. D. Walker, for the applicants, submitted that the cases had arisen tram a connection which the public had found for themselves. They wanted to abolish the Leicester change which was especially difficult for those people who travelled overnight. He did not think they should be expected to provide better facilities at Leicester, as the coach station was not their property and they used it for only a small portion of the year.
The railways had not rebutted the evidence put forward, and passengers wishing to travel to East Anglia by train first had to go to London, as there were no direct facilities. As this was the case he did not think B.R. had the right to ask for protection.
After reserving decision, Mr. Williamson said he would have to consult several Traffic Commissioners from other areas. He felt that a primary licence would be granted with timings and departures as requested. but the key to the question was the number of vehicle journeys allowed.
Decision on this part of the application would be given at a later date.