PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
Page 22
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the )3us and Coach World.
THE TYNESIDE COACHING SEASON OPENS.
Many Vehicles Brought into Use for the Easter Race Meeting at Gosforth
rplIE Easter vacation . marked the „I_ opening of the Tyneside motor coaching season proper; and, whilst the weather in the North 'of England could not at any time be described as ideal for road touring, nevertheless it was a dry and fairly warm holiday, and, in consequence, many residents in this area showed a marked inclination to get away from the scene of their daily toil and spend a few pleasant and relaxing hours at the seaside or in the country. As a result, the many attractive road tours organized zed by local owners were largely, patronized, whilst, in addition, privateparty bookings were extremely heavy, . some owners having been completely booked up prior to the end of Last 'year. This early booking, indeed, has already been one of the features of the present season, and provides a sharp contrast to former years, when the rule of the majority of patrons was often to delay placing their orders until a few days before a proposed outing, with the result that they have not infrequently met with the response, " Sorry, but we're folly booked up for that date." The plans of local proprietors, so fax as advertised tours are concerned, were also launched, and met with encouraging response.
Rates for the opening tours were fairly constant at just over Id. per passenger per mile, with a slightly higher charge for small coaches fitted with pneumatic tyres. The -following trips, operated by Messrs. Galley; of Newcastle, will give a good idea of the wide range of destinations to which coaches. travel from the Tyneside centre and the reasonable nature of the charges:—
WHOLE-DAY TOURS. s. d.
Barnard Castle, Richmond, Darlington 10 0 Wooler, Banahurgh, Seabouses, Warkworth (in 14-seaters) ... 11. 6 Alnwick and Alnmouth 6 6 HALF-DAY TOURS.
S. d.
Allendale and Steward ... 6 6 Rothbury 6 6
Rothbury (in 14-seaters) „, ... 7 6 Blanchland, via Shotley Bridge,
and Edmondbyres 6 0 Morpeth .., 3 6 As in past years, the Easter race meeting at Gosforth Park also provided remunerative work for many owners, but the number of coaches plying between Newcastle and the racecourse was this year considerably below the numbers in previous years. The reason for this was probably that vehicles were'engaged on other work, necessitating their use for the whole day instead of only a portion, as is the case in 'conveying passengers to and from the course. Those catering for that class of trade, however, did good business at a general charge of 1s. 6d. return to Gosforth Park, which is situated some five miles from Neville Street, opposite the Central Station, which has been allocated by the local authorities as a coach park on such occasions.
The situation of the parking area, it might be stated, is ideal, for travellers coming into the town by rail have only to walk out of the station approach into a waiting coach, and be cast-led direct to the course. As in past years, large numbers of coaches and motorbuses from all the surrounding districts within a radius of between 40 miles and 50 miles carried complements of racegoers direct to Gosforth Park, and without a doubt road vehicles provided a convenient and speedy means of reaching the course,