• Fare Grants to Cover Wages Begin
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Bristol and Southern and Western National Succeed : More Applications Pour In
APPLICATIONS to raise fares to meet the higher cost of wages are now being granted. Among the first operators to succeed are the Bristol Omnibus Co., Ltd., Southern National Omnibus Co., Ltd., and Western National Omnibus Co., Ltd.
In addition, there is a steady flow of applications to the Traffic Commissioners' offices, to be heard shortly.
The Western Traffic Commissioners at Bristol last Friday granted an application by the Bristol Omnibus Co., Ltd., designed to bring in an additional £110,250 by March 31 next on the city services. The higher charges were put into effect last Sunday. Stage lengths have been reduced, but the minimum 2d. fare has been retained.
The distance covered for 2d. is 0.9 mile, and for 3d., 14 miles: for 12 miles the charge is Is.
Bath Fares Up
The Commissioners also allowed the Bristol company to raise fares in Bath and on country services over a wide area. Wages on these services have risen by £125,000 a year. The company were allowed to increase by +d, single fares of IN. to 31d.; to add Id, to single fares of 5d, and more; 2d. to returns up to 2s. 10d., and 3d. to fares over that amount.
It was stated that the Bristol company's traffic had fallen from 194m. passengers in 1950 to 159m. in 1956. It would take a long time to recover traffic lost during the strike.
Earlier in the week the Commissioners granted applications by the Western -and Southern National companies. Fares from 3d. to 6d. have been raised by Id. and other single fares by Id. Return fares beginning at Is. 2d, have been increased by 2d.
Services run by the companies in conjunction with Plymouth Corporation were excluded. The application also did not affect services in areas where Wilts and Dorset Motor Services, Ltd., Devon General Omnibus and Touring Co.. Ltd., and Bristol Omnibus Co., Ltd., were the dominant operators. In those cases, Western and Southern National will charge fares in line with those granted to the companies concerned There were eight objectors.
Devon General Next Month
Devon General's application, which will not affect services run in Exeter, will be heard on September 10.
Believing that it might he to the detriment of the area which Southern National serve, Weymouth Corporation are investigating the amalgamation of the accounts of this company with those of Western National. The corporation are also urging all local authorities in their area to object, " whenever justified," to any operator's application to raise fares.
Cumberland Motor Services, Ltd., have now lodged their application with the Northern Traffic Commissioners. who will hear it at Carlisle on September 13. It covers single and return fares and multiple-journey tickets for workpeople and schoolchildren.
Gateshead and District Omnibus Co. are seeking to bring their fares into line with the proposed new scale of Newcastle Corporation. Ordinary fares would be based on 0.4 mile for I Id., with the addition of +d. for each succeeding half-mile up to 2_9 miles. Thereafter an additional 1d. would be charged for each mile. Concession fares, including those for children. are also affected
600 Services Involved
Six hundred services in Yorkshire are
affected by applications for increased fares by eight of the principal bus operators-Leeds Corporation, West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd., Huddersfield Corporation and the British Transport. Commission, Yorkshire • Woollen District Transport Co., Ltd., Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd., Hanson's Buses, Ltd., and Hebble Motor Services, Ltd.
Leeds Corporation seek to add Id. to 2+d. ordinary fares, to introduce a 2d, fare for journeys of one stage, and to amend concession fares. The application by Huddersfield Corporation and the B.T.C. proposes to revise fares on
one-mile and 14-mile stages,
An application has been made by Brighton Corporation to the South-Eastern Traffic Commissioners for increases in fares to bring in another £25,000 a year. It is proposed to maintain the 2d. minimum, but to raise fares for lower denominations by Id. and the higher values by 2d. MiddlesbroughTransport Committee, who are .faced with a deficit of £44,000, propose to preserve the Id. minimum, but to increase the 14d. fare to 241. and the 24(1. rate to 3d. Workmen's fares would be raised by Id.
The Northern Traffic Commissioners will hear at Newcastle upon Tyne next Tuesday the application of United Automobile Co., Ltd., to raise fares by a maximum amour of 441.
Lincolnshire Road Car Co., Ltd., who have to find at least an extra £100,000 a year,. seek to reduce mileage scales. Twopence would be charged for 0.6 mile, instead of 0.8 mile. Return fare's would also be affected. In the past five years the company have lost 7m. passengers. Already this year 1 m. fewer passengers have been carried.
Eastern Counties Apply
The Eastern Traffic Commissioners will hear at Cambridge on. September 11 an application by the Eastern Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd... who need well over £100,000 a-year extra revenue. It is proposed that fares between 2d. and 51d. should be increased by Id. and those of 6d. and more by 111.
Rochdale Corporation's application to raise fares by id. is likely to be heard by the North Western Traffic Commissioners on October 28.
Derby Town Council decided on Monday to seek increased fares to produce another £41.000 a year. It is proposed to raise 2141. fares to 3d., to abolish ordinary workmen's tickets and, to assess children's fares at half the adult rate, with a mini. mum of 2d.
The East Midland Traffic Commissioners will hear an application by Lincoln Corporation on September 12. It was lodged before the recent wage increase and does not take into consideration the extra expenditure of £8.500 a year on account of wages.
Aldershot and District Traction Co., Ltd.. and Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., have both applied to the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner to increase charges on stage services. Aldershot and District propose three scales, but the minimum fare in each case would be 2d. for half-a-mile.
Although they have to find an extra £25,250 a year for wages, Halifax Passengei Transport Committee have decided to frees' Cares for six months.