Scottish coach firm wants tour fare cut
Page 24
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
WATSONS Tours (Dundee) Ltd, were having to apply for reductions in their excursion fares so that they would be able to compete with excursions being offered by James Cosgrave, trading as George B. Fyffe (Fyffe Tours).
This was said before the Scottish Traffic Commissioners by a director of Watsons, G. Hoyle, when the application came before the Scottish Traffic Commissioners at a public hearing in Dundee.
Mr Hoyle said the proposed fares had already been introduced under a dispensation granted by the Commissioners. However, they meant that on certain excursions where full loads were not being carried, the company was having to operate at a loss for the sake of competing fairly.
Of the three excursions operators in the area, the present authorised fares of W. Alexander & Sons (Northern) Ltd were the highest, Mr Cosgrave's were the lowest and his company's came in between the two.
Watsons would really like to increase their fares as would Alexanders. In fact that company had had to hold them down when the Scottish Bus Group overall increased excursions fares because of the extremely low fares authorised to Mr Cosgrave.
Mr Hoyle asked the Commissioners to set a fare norm for all three operators.
After Mr Hoyle had said Watsons were appealing against a decision in June to grant additional destinations to Mr Cosgrave, the Commissioners adjourned the application until the determination of that appeal. They indicated they will continue the dispensation until then.