Long-distance Operators Seek Higher Week.`end Fares
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nPERATORS of long-distance coach services to and from London have asked for permission to increase their week-end fares next year by 10 per cent. to 124 per cent.
The Central Fares Committee made the application to the Metropolitan Licensing Authority on the ground of increased costs of wages, fuel and maintenance. Many operators believe that a week-end increase during the summer will encourage mid-week travel in the peak holiday period.
In spite of an increase in fares granted by the East Midland' Licensing Authority to W. Gash and Sons, Ltd.. Newark, their rates are still below Id.
a mile. •
When the company applied last week for permission to add from Id. to 3d. to single and return fares over 8d., Mr. R. Seely Whitby said that even with the increase the return fare for the journey between Newark and Nottingham would be only as. That was less than Id; a .mile, and was one of the cheapest fares in the country.
The proposals were expected to bring in an extra E4,800 a year, most of which would be. absorbed by increases . in wages a:ncl other costs arising since their -last application in 1952..
The application was granted in respect of stage services. Consideration of higher express.:serviee fares was deferred until the question of fares in the whole area comes up for considera.
tion.
Oldham Transport Department has successfully applied to the North Western Licensing Authority for permission to raise its minimum fare to 2d.
The 'Authority adjourned, for consideration of the legal position, the undertaking's proposals to extend halffare charges to children up to the age of 15 years.
A recommendation by the transport committee that they should not oppose the Northern Licensing Authority's proposal to abolish workers' concession rates on their bus services has been approved by Newcastle upon Tyne City Council. As reported in The Commercial Motor on November 11, the proposal will be the subject of a public inquiry on December I. • Wolverhampton Faces Loss To meet an estimated loss of £145,000 a year, Wolverhampton Corporation may increase fares and abandon workmen's return tickets.
A report by the transport committee to the town council, to be submitted next Monday, recomMends that.the 2d. Stage be reduced • to the length of the former Id. stage, and that V.d. be charged for the remainder —of the stage. Other recommendations include increases of Id. in 2d. to 6d. fares, Id. in 7d. to lid. 'fares, and of 2d. in fares. over ts.
If the council are authorized to abolish workers' returns, they replace them with an early-morning single fare which would cost workers an extra 2d. a day.
The proposed new fares would bring in an additional £153,000 a' year after allowing for passenger resistance."
[Wolverhampton recently gave bus crews a rise of 10s. a week.]