L.N.E.R. Loses Appeal., but Gains Objective
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WE are now able to amplify our reports, in last week's issue, of.the Minister of Transport's decisions on a number of important appeals.
Although the London and North Eastern Railway Co. failed in its appeal against :the Northern and Southern Scotland Traffic Commissioners' refusals to limit, in accordance -with the Minister's Orders, the duplication of a stage service operated from Glasgow. to Aberdeen by W. Alexander and Sons. Ltd., the company has gained its objective. The London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co. lodged a similar appeal, which has succeeded, so that the L.N.E.R. indirectly secures the protection which it sought. •
At the inquiry, it was contended for the Alexander concern that the
Minister had no jurisdiction to determine the appeals, as they did not comply with the Public Service Vehicles (Licences and Certificates) Regulations. The Minister has ruled against this argument. The L.N.E.R. normally operates only one through train daily from Glasgow to Aberdeen, and the Minister agrees that the company cannot rightly claim that this route is a backbone railway service !
So far as the L.M.S. appeals are concerned, the Minister is satisfied that the road service falls within the extreme-distance class, that, despite the growing importance of Aberdeen as a holiday centre, it remains a place of substantial industrial and commercial importance, and that, although technically a stage service, the Alexander concern provides what is tantamount to an express service, which is in competition with a backbone railway.
Mr. D. Oswald Dykes, KC., who heard the appeals, submitted to the Minister that, on these general criteria, the road service must be regarded as coming within the principle of the duplication Orders, hut he inclined to the view that the case in question did not call ior the strict application of that principle. • With the latter .argumtil the Minister disagrees and has ordered that duplication .Shallbe restricted according to the Weill-known fitandar4
The other appeals of importance are those of Majestic Express Motors, Ltd., and Fingland's Hire Cars, Ltd., against the refusal of the North-Western, West Midland, East Midland and Metropolitan Traffic Commissioners to authorize a co-ordination scheme ; refusal in all four areas to reduce the London-Manchester night-service return fare from 25s. to 23s.; decisions of the North-Western and Metropolitan Commissioners regarding duplication ; by the Majestic concern against the NorthWestern and Metropolitan Commissioners' action in cancelling the winter day service, and by Fingland's against the same Commissioners' refusal to authorize additional picking-up points.
The Minister has ordered the Nor iiiWestern and Metropolitan Commis sioners to reduce the fare to 23s. and to reinstate the Majestic winter day service. The latter decision is based solely upon the " traffic" merits of the case. The Minister's ruling does not prejudice the formulation of new coordination proposals by the companies.
In view of the circumstances, the Minister feels that it is unnecessary for him, in his decision, to refer to the question of duplication ELECTORS REJECT DOVER BUS SCHEME.
DOVER Corporation has experienced a setback in its efforts to obtain Parliamentary power to replace the tramways by a bus system, at an estimated cost of £71,000: the cost of the vehicles is placed at £33,000. A meeting of local-government electors has rejected the sections of the proposed Parliamentary Bill relating to transport. A town's poll is now expected.
COACH • USES OIL FROM BRITISH COAL.
CLAIMED to be the first occasion upon which a coach-has been run on iil fuel made from British coal, Keith Ind Boyle (London), Ltd., recently Terated on its London-Bournemouth iervice • an A.E.C. vehicle conguming Fuel produced from Yorkshire coal by the low temperature carbonization process.