Commissioners inspect Hoverfloyd coaches
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COACHES operated on behalf of Hoverlloyd Ltd, by the East Kent. Road Car Co Ltd, were examined by the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioners, at a public inqUiry in London last Friday.
It was the third day of a hearing of an application by the Wallace Arnold Group company, Evan Evans Tours Ltd, for a licence to operate a special service for Hoverlloyd from the Eustonair/coach ter minal to the Pegwell Bay hoverport. The service was at present being provided by East Kent, Which opposed the application, along with National Travel (South East) Ltd, and Orange Luxury Coaches Ltd.
During the previous two days, allegations had been made that the development or the Hoverlloyd cross-Channel hovercraft service had been inhibited by poor quality coaches provided by East Kent (CM October 24 and November 14).
• Mr K. Beecham, research and planning manager ot Hoverlolyd said between 1970 and 1974 overall carryings on the hovercraft service had increased by 73 per cent, while those on the through service had risen only by 7.4 per cent. This placed the whole hovercraft operation in jeopardy.
Questioned by Mr M. A. Thorpe, for East Kent and National Travel, Mr Beecham agreed Hoveriloyd had turned down an offer by East Kent to provide modern luxury coaches for 1974.
Mr Thorpe argued that when Hoverlioyd initiated the through coach service they were pioneers in the field.
But Mr Beecham said he could not accept that competition with Sea-link was the reason.for the decline of the coach service traffic. Hoverlloyd had faced as much competition in other markets and had in fact increased its share of the traffic.
The Commissioners adjourned the hearing until a date to be fixed.