First Beeching Ra ii Closure Inquiry
Page 41
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A N attempt to turn the first Beeching
rail-closure inquiry into a slanging match was firmly countered by Mr. H. N. Tuff, general manager of the West Yorkshire Road Car Co. Ltd.
At the conclusion of the hearing on Tuesday by the Yorkshire Transport Users' Consultative Committee, chairman General Sir Roy Butcher said the bus company seemed to have had a rather rough time.
The hearing concerned the proposed withdrawal of passenger train services between Harrogate and Cross Gate, via Wetherby, and between Church Fenton and Wetherby.
The hearing began with the proposal to withdraw the one morning passenger train a day between Church Fenton and Wetherby. Not more than 10 people were using this train but Cllr. A. J. Dyer, Harrogate Constituents Labour Party, said it was hardship whether a large or a small group was -hit; he wanted
co-ordination between the West Riding Automobile Co. Ltd. and West Yorkshire for a service.
Mr. Tuff said he would look into the matter and Sir Roy thought it was interesting to note that not one actual user of that particular train had objected to its withdrawal.
There were, however, fierce attacks on buses as an alternative to rail between Wetherby and Leeds. Mr. F. E. Buller, a brewery taxation adviser, said that a bus journey was monotonous and tiring and no bus company had yet discovered a way of keeping the interior of the vehicle properly warm. Buses were all right for a journey of six or seven miles, but not one of 13 miles.
Replying that West Yorkshire had buses travelling up to 65 miles on one journey, Mr. Tuff said thousands of people enjoyed travelling by bus, and in recent years his company had put in fluorescent lighting and modern heating.