Extra Coaches Every Year Bat One
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SINCE I. W. Kitchin and Sons, Ltd., Bradford, were first granted an express service to Great Yarmouth in 1954, they have been allowed extra vehicles every year except 1957, when the Suez crisis cut operations. The Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners heard this from Mr. Edwin Kitchin, last week, when he asked for an increase in his vehicle allowance for the service. There were objections from British Railways and United Automobile Services, Ltd.
Mr. Kitchin said there was a tremendous demand for seats on his vehicles, because his service was £.1 cheaper than travelling by rail. The outward journey was made overnight on Friday, returning the following morning. , So far, 265 people had been unable to book for August 1 because of the shortage of vehicles.
He added that he could not understand the U.A.S. objection, as their overnight service from Newcastle picked up at Leeds. They opposed his application for the licence in 1954, but had never objected to subsequent increases in vehicles. In turn, Kitchin's had not objected to U.A.S. picking up at Leeds— a facility granted since 1954.
Mr. T. B. Atkinson, for British Railways, claimed that it as not a question of an operator being given enough vehicles each year to fulfil all his bookings; it was a question of the balance between road and rail. It would be absurd to suggest that if an operator had bookings for 40,000 seats, he should automatically be justified in seeking 1,000 vehicles on his allowance. The balance between road and rail had now been reached, and the application, however modest, should be refused on principle.
For U.A.S., Mr. W. Hargrave said they did not object to previous increases because they did not have seats available.
Maj. F. S. Eastwood, chairman, said a limited grant would be announced later.