15 Small Operators Work Together
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By P. A. C. Brockington,
A.M.I.Mech.E.
Members of the Shropshire Omnibus Society Run Two Important Services in Conjunction with the Midland "Red" Company
IN the Wellington Oak en gates -, Donnington area of Shropshire. 15 small concerns operate 18 vehicles in conjunction with buses of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., to provide two important stage-carriage services.
The concerns are rota members of the Shropshire Omnibus Association, Ltd., with Leadquarters in Oakengates. , The qualification " rota " is derived . from the system employed by which each vehicle completes a similar running schedule in a three-months period. Comparing the number of vehicles run by members with those in the Midland " Red " services the ratio is approximately 24 to I. The length of both routes is about 44 miles. • The size of the members' fleets from which the vehicles for the rota services are supplied varies from 1 to 18, the buses including such,divergent types as Bedford war-time utility 33-seaters and the latest Sentinel underfloor-engined 40-seaters. The majority of the con cerns also operates other stage-carriage services, a network covering the area and extending to Wolverhampton and Market Drayton.
Additionally, express services, tours and excursions and contract services are operated. Express services extend as far as Manchester, Blackpool and centres in North Wales. Many of tht operators are family concerns with t. long history in the passenger-transpor business.
The buses in the first rota service rut between Wellington and St. George via Oakengates, and in the seconi between Wellington and Donnington via Trench. The timetable is based or a frequency of six vehicles an hou: with early-morning and late-night varia tions and some additional vehicles a peak hours.
On Thursdays and Saturday: increases in frequency are made on thc Wellington-St. Georges service an there is a Saturday increase on thi Wellington Donnington route.
limited Sunday service is provided or both routes.
The Shropshire Omnibus Associatior were incorporated as a limited company in 1931 under the guidance of the secre tary, Mr. Leonard Ross, with whom thi present secretary, Mr. H. Tranter C.A., A.T.I.I., was closely associated r a number of Years. Mr. Tranter s been secretary for three years and 1951 was responsible for arranging purchase of a small concern operata service between Priors Lee and tkengates, which made possible an tension of the . WellingtonOakentes route to include Priors Lee and GeorgeS. The Wellingtonmnington service is run over the iginal route.
Fares are not shared by the members, io "keep what they get" and pay luarterty subscription to the Associan, the amount being doubled for the 'ee members each operating two 'tides on the Wellington
mnington service. When an extra yment is required to meet extralinary expenses, such as the cost or iploying part-time inspectors, this is irged to the members in the group which the work is done. Tickets ; supplied by the Association at a all profit to itself.
Operator's Identity Preserved The vehicles carry the concern's Luc and are painted in each respective crater's colours. Mr. Tranter has )posed that' all the buses should be .seaters, have similar interior appoint:Ms, and that they should be painted the Association's colours of black 1 royal blue, a distinction which as exists only on paper. It is conered that this would attract a larger mber of passengers.
Zelations with the Midland " Red " IT and executives are marked by a .mdly rivalry. When the last increase fares was authorized in February,
Association recommended that it iuld not be applied until a passenger tsus had been taken to investigate the ;sible reduction of uneconomic run[g. For a week the higher fares were irged on the Midland "Red" tides but not on the members' buses, '3veritually the company agreed to 3oint enumerators to work in close son with inspectors appointed by the sociation, and for -a period a dland " Red " and an Association Neter travelled together on every vice and countersigned each other's isus sheets. The lower fares are now trged on all the services.
qr. Tranter emphasizes that members had no objection to the increase, but considered that a census was essential to verify its justification. lithe present general increase is later accepted, a census may be instrumental in obviating a further increase.
Although the compilation and enforcement of the rota rules is the main work of the Association, it also acts as a clearing house for ideas and complaints. Non-rota members number 19 and pay
a reduced subscription. In addition to the rota sub-committees, an industrial committee meets as required to examine the representations of local industries,
schools and so on. One of the rota merhbers is also a member of the P.S.V. Maintenance Committee and its recommendations are discussed at the meetings.
Some time ago, members of the S.O.A. were instrumental in fostering the formation of another association known as the Contract Services Association, of which-Mr. Tranter is also the secretary.. This has for its main objective the fixing and maintenance of private-party rates in the Wrekid area, and it also negotiates rates for schools or -Works contracts and organizes fleets up to 40 and more vehicles for large parties. Rates in a number of categories are published by the Association.
The C.S.A. have taken a great interest in the troops' services operated by its members. Previously, these were run as private parties, but the latest applications for licences have, on the advice of Mr. Tranter, been made on a tours-and-excursions basis, some of which have been approved, in principle by the West Midland Licensing Authority. Applications for express licences have been submitted and a decision is awaited.
The Association co-operates with the Road Passenger and Transport Association, Ltd., in all negotiations with other operators. In the opinion of Mr. Tranter, the problem of irregular private parties can be resolved by the enforcement of Section 25 of the 1934 Act. He maintains that a "special " occasion is special with regard to the party and not to the destination.