NORTH WESTERN SEEKS FARES INCREASE
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THE Stockport-based North Western Road Car Co., which runs a fleet of nearly 600 vehicles in Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire and parts of the West Riding, has applied to the Traffic Commissioners for permission to put up fares.
The company says it is almost two years since the last application to increase fares was submitted and present fares have been in operation since July 3 1965.
"It was our hope to stabilize fares for a lengthy period," says Mr. William Leese, general manager, "but I am afraid that the serious increases in costs and falling traffic are such that we can no longer refrain from seeking an increase in revenue to balance our economy."
He added: "The increases in our costs since the last increase in fares amount to £226,000 per annum."
North Western estimates that its application to increase stage carriage fares will bring in an extra £149,800 a year. Later, the company intends to apply to increase express service fares and excursion fares which will yield another £16,700.
Fare increases would yield £166,500 a year— not enough to meet the £226,000 increase in yearly operating costs. But Mr. Leese, in a letter to local authorities, says the company hopes to be able to bridge this gap of £59,500 "by economies in mileage and the introduction of further one-man operation."
Concessions Cost: Newcastle upon Tyne Transport Committee reports that the estimated annual cost of concessionary fares on city buses during 1966-67 was £2 Ss. 3d. per pass holder. There were 26,900 passes in use and the total cost, including £500 for administrative charges, was £65,400—£10,400 higher than originally estimated,