3d. a Mile Application the Highest Yet
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FARE increases designed to bring in a total of £200,000 a year were sought by Lancashire United Transport, Ltd., and the South Lancashire Transport Co., Ltd., last week. Mr. C. C. Dakham, the companies' general manager, told the North-Western Traffic Commissioners that they had lost over 2m. passengers this year and had been drawing on their reserves to pay their way.
Mr. FL Backhouse said that by reason of wages and traffic expenses the companies needed £109,645 more in 1957 than in 1946. In 1958, working on the same basis, they would have to find £116,645. The proposals were to reduce mileage on 2d. fare stages and charge Id. more on each stage above. The cost to the companies per bus-mile had risen from 23.3W. in 1955 to 28.53d. now.
Mr. Oakham, replying to Mr. 3. Booth, who represented 10 objecting councils, said he did not expect a dividend to be paid in 1957 unless the board
" mortgaged the future." Questioned about the policy of modernizing the trolleybus fleet by replacing them with modern vehicles, Mr. Oakham said it was long overdue.
Mr. Booth submitted that no case had been made out for the sum quoted. Estimates for fuel and wages were unduly high, and the attempt to modernize the companies' fleets out of revenue should not be encouraged. The shareholders should provide such capital.
Mr. F. Williamson, chairman, said the lower denominations of the companies' fares were higher than any they had seen. The 2d. and 3d. fares were on the basis of approximately 3d. per mile. Decision would be reserved, until the result of the present fares dispute was known.
Approving an application by Langley Park Motor Co., Ltd., to increase fares, Mr. J. A. T. Hanidn, chairman• of the Northern Traffic Cornmissioners, said that if the fares were not raised the services would quickly come to a halt. The increase, which amounted to on five routes, is already in operation under a dispensation and the application was made to regularize the position.
PASSENGERS NOT WORRIED
PRESENTING his annual report to Edinburgh City Council, Mr. W. M. Little, general manager of the transport department, said that annual wage increases seemed to have become inevitable, and each year saw a greater problem in securing equivalent revenue from higher fares. However, to some extent fare increases did not seem to worry passengers, provided that the service was satisfactory.
LONDON BUSES BEATING TRAFFIC JAMS
mEW control methods instituted by
London Transport to speed up its London services are winning through, despite the build-up of traffic since fuel was derationed. A statement issued last week said that through quick-action control methods, bus -mileage lost by traffic delays was less thaw half what it was a year ago.
Sir John Elliot, chairman of London Transport, attributed the success to expanded bus control, liaison between inspectors and the police, and co-operation by bus crews and the public.