Fare Scales being Reorganized
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DRIVEN by rising costs to review the entire basis of fares, many general managers are seeking additional revenue by reorganizing fare scales. An example of this process in a small undertaking is seen in the decision of Caerphilly Corporation to apply for revised charges based on mileage. It has also decided to seek the abolition of workmen's fares. Weekly tickets will be proposed to replace them.
Described as vi attempt to "win back some of the 12m. passengers who vanished last year when their journeys cost 3d. instead of 2d.," a new fare table has been worked out by Belfast Corporation. Longer 2d. stages and the withdrawal of the 3d. and 31d. tickets are suggested. The present workmen's and children's concession charges may also be modified.
The general manager, Mr. J. Mackie, stated last week that the deficit for 1951-1952 was estimated at 5_80,000. The new fares will produce an estimated surplus of £7,713. Trolley' bus workihg with the new charges should produce a surplus of 1167,874. whilst the motorbuses and trams should incur deficits of £138,731 and 0,840 respectively.
Newport Coming Back ?
Although higher charges were introduced last February, Newport Corporation is again considering steps to deal with an estimated deficit of £28,000.
The general manager, Mr. R. A. Hawkins, in a statement last week. pointed out that the Budget has raised the undertaking's fuel costs by £14,000, and other increases may augment expenditure by £26,000 a year. Since the war, working expenses had increased by 182 per cent. from 10.4d. per mile to nearly 29d. per mile. Fares were now 28 per cent, higher than prewar fares as a whole.
Applications of Huddersfield, Todrnorden and Blackburn Corporations, have been granted. Blackburn has already introduced new rates. In this case, all single fares have been advanced by f d. and all return fares by Id.
A new application for higher charges has been filed by Ribble Motor Services, Ltd. This seeks to increase return fares above lid, by a maximum of 3d. on stage-carriage services. Only charges unchanged since the war are
affected. Approximately 140 services operated by the concern alone, as well as 107 worked jointly with 13 other operators, are involved. Application has also been made for permission to bring charges on express services up to 25 per cent, above the pre-war level.
A new application, similar in scope to that granted to Blackburn Corporation, with which it operates jointly on
some routes, has been lodged by Accrington Corporation. It calls for the addition of id. to all single fares and Id. to returns, together with •a reduction of the scope of workmen's return tickets. These, it is proposed, should be based on single fare plus a half, instead of single fare plus Id. Twenty-three services operated jointly with four undertakings are also affected.
FEBRUARY'S REGISTRATIONS
DURING February, 12,082 vehicles, other than cars and motorcycles, were registered for the first time. January's figure was 15,086. Further details are given in the following table: