PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
Page 19
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR COACH OWNERS.
Points which are Deserving of Greater Attention. Differences in Owners Activities in Industrial and Seaside Centres.
Mille scope of passenger road trans1 port has, 'during the past three or four years, bkaad.ned out 'considerably, with the result that son-e of the pioneers of tfintar'caaChiitg,''particularly"thoSe in
the provinces, have been rather disturbed in. their iclea4as. to what is; or should be, their' particular sPhere of operation. The day has long pissed when n1.1 that edach crwrfer needed to do was to inn his Vehicle on the
stand, put a destination board Ili frbnt, wait for a load and then driVe 'off. -Today he has to exercise ingenuity and re
source, weigh up possibilities and probabilifiea, and keep his finger on the pulse of the public all the time.
If he thinks there be scope for !singlesent bookings on half-day holidays, he cam no longer remain blissfully indif ferent as to whether the railways are running an excursion or not, or whether he should turn out Hs 1919 33-seater or his late s18-seater coach de luxe; he must, at thc outset, have clear and
settle] ideas as to the craffic he wants, how he can get it, and how he can keep his business g ing profitably the season through.
Now, in the mctor c'eaching'industrY, the two main avennef of employment are single-seat bookings and party work, and in arriving at these two rough classifications, one is fully cognizant of the fact that the distinction is much wider in seaside towns than in industrial areas. in the farmer, the summer trade is made up of 95 Per cent, single seat bookings, and proVided the orgauisatiou is of Nufficient elasticity and has been carefully conceived at the begin ning of the season, this presents no difficulties whatever: In industrial towns, however, there is a big element of competitive and speculative risk, for while people are working (excepting for an odd two or three holiday weeks), the opportunities for a brisk trade in single-seat bookings are woefully restricted.
On the other hand, the disparity in the average daily load factor is reduced to some extent by the assurance of there being occasional big parties such as works outings, picnics, etc., for which to cater. Even this business, however, is competitive, for, as a rule, when arrangements are being made, organizers approach the railway companies for rates, and likewise coach proprietors, and the figures are put before an executive for final decision. If a destination has been finally selected and the difference in the respective charges be a big one, it can be depended upon that the coach owner is at a very serious dise dvan tag. •
The speciality of the coach owner should not be to convey parties to pieces already well served by railways, but to still-1111nm interest in those districts somewhat off the beaten track. Not that coach owners cannot put up a good
fight with the railway companies in the matter of fares, but road journeys to places away from the railway always make an appeal.
It may be remembered by some of our readers that It season the railways ran 5s. exeursicinS from Liverpool to Blackpool. This was ceitainlY very good value, but what about that given by some of the coach owners, Whir even.guaranteed a daily service at a 'rate Of 4s. for the 96-mile journey. If it be commercially sound to undertake joeirneYs to such a popular resort as Blackpool for so low a rates why-should not the coach owner be ab!e to do his share in opening up some of the lesser known, but, in a differens sense, equally attractive, resorts, which hitherto have not been exploited?
Ideas have been put-forward for joint publicity endeavours to let the public know how to see Great Britain by motor coach. but, largely due to the absence of cohesion amongst coach proprietors themselves, these have not assumed any cl-finite shape. The responsibility, therefore, rests on the individual proprietor, who must seek to develop interest amongst his own clientele, and if be can work in co-operation with some of the townships that are anxious to find a place on the map, as well as with hotel proprietors ard others whose interest it is to attract visitors so much the be,ser.
The public of to-day knows more about the eornfort of motor coach travel than it did before, and although many owners with an implicit belief in the economies and earning capacity of the largest types of vehicle will continue to boom large coaches, the fact remains that in many of the chief coaching centres the public IS manifesting a dis tinct partiality for the 18-22-24-seater types shod with pneumatic tyres. Now adays travelling comfort is an important consideration, and if the support of the public is to be obtained the coach owners must provide the class of vehicle the public demands. That is the first line of approach, Secondly, they should tell the public all about the service they are out to provide. Too much emphasis cannot be laid on the fact that the public looks for variety when reviewing suggested destinations for a day's touring. This leads us back to the consideration that there should be more co-operation _ between coach owners and the advertising or publicity departments of muni cipal councils, which are keen and anxious to attract summer-time visitors. The chief local difficulty in industrial towns seems to be the irritating subject of rates. There is no consistency in these, and in some towns less than id. per passenger per mile is quoted. When the holiday season commences at seaside
resorts business, as a rule, is fast and furious for a period of about three
months, and, in that time, fleet owners expect to make sufficient profit to carry them over the remaining portion of the year, when, excepting for occasional commissions to supply saloon coaches for concerts, theatres, football matches, etc., bookings are negligible. Most of the coach owners in seaside towns offer comprehensive summer programmes of tours from Is. to 15s. According to the experiences of the 1925 season the most favoured tours are those providing a long afternoon excursion and costing from Sc. to 7s. Cal.
At favoured holiday resorts an understandins amongst coach owners on
rates, etc., is much easier of attainment, excepting perhaps at BlackpooL Hence the better all-round average of rates.
So far as prospects for the forthcoming season are concerned, these appear to be fairly bright for owners in seaside centres, but rather indefinite for those in industrial areas.