L.T.E. Cuts Mileage to Save am. a Year
Page 35
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
IN the second stage of its efforts to cope with a situation in which decreased passenger .demand and increased costs have contributed to its inability to meet annual interest charges by Ezlim., London Transport on Wednesday made an effective cut in route-mileage of 3 per cent. Similar reductions were made last August.
Nominally the mileage reduction was one of 6 per cent., based on time-tabled services, but of these, at least 3 per cent. have not recently been worked because of staff shortages.
Economies have been effected by frequency reductions in the majority of central routes. Four complete routes and five sections of others have been withdrawn between Mondays and Fridays. Further general reductions have been made in the in-town area on Saturdays, and 27 routes and 11 sections of other routes are to be withdrawn altogether on Sundays.
In the past eight years, London Transport has lost approximately 700m. passengers a year: since the strike of May and June, nearly 28 per cent. fewer Londoners were carried than in the corresponding period of 1950.
Reductions in mileage so far carried out amount to 24 per cent, and are calculated to save £.3m. annually.
" PIRATE " BUSES RUNNING
QEVEN Finchley Liberal councillors L., last week-end began running two hired single-deckers between Golders Green and East Finchley stations without charge at rush hours. More than 500 people used the vehicles on the first day, and the councillors planned to introduce another service between East Finchley and Hendon Central next Sunday.
These moves were intended to counter London Transport's reductions in services, and it was decided earlier this week to apply for a licence so that fares could be charged.