Northern General May Have to Raise Fares
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L S a result of the recent pay I increases, which will cost the arthern General group of companies out £100,000 a year, another applicant for higher fares may have to be tde.
Mr. W. T. James, chairman of the m-thern General Transport Co., Ltd., io made this statement at the annual teting last Friday, said that much had en achieved during the year to reduce sts. Two of the most important facI were the use of lower-viscosity nicating oils and the purchase of hter vehicles with greater seating pacity.
Last year, partly because of resist-.te to increased fares, the number of isengers carried had dropped some . to 255m.
"Whilst this decrease is comparatively small," said Mr. James, "it points to the fact that fares cannot be increased indefinitely. Northern General is, however, one of the few undertakings in the country still charging Id. fares."
Total traffic receipts were higher because fares on stage services were raised early in 1953.
Interavailable road-rail tickets had been extended to South Shields routes, and some 7,000 passengers a month were taking advantage of them.
Last year 53 new vehicles, costing about £200,000, were bought. During the next two or three years expenditure on new vehicles was likely to be about £300,000 a year.
The growth of the company's opera
lions since the end of the war had called for additional garage accommodation, and an extensive building programme was contemplated.
Contracts had been placed for art extension to . the garage at Chester-leStreet to house 97 additional vehicles, A new garage at Winlaton for 30 vehicles, and an extension to the" Percy Main garage at Tynemouth for, a further 35 vehicles, were-proposed. The provision of a garage and bus station at Sunderland was in hand, and depots at Stanley and Murton were to be extended, During the next two or three years, some £400,000 would have to be spent on buildings.
Last year, nearly 10,000 people travelled on the company's extended tours.