SOUTH WALES AS A COACHING CENTRE.
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Arrangements for the Coming Season and Aspects of the Coaching Situation in Cardiff.
MITE PREP A.RATIONS for the forth, .11 coming .motor coaching season in South Wales are now well advanced. It was found lastyear that definitely scheduled selvices were far more popular than hastily organized tours over routes which were settled wily a short time previously. The tours which were in evidence last year, and which formed the main sources of income for Coach owners, will Again be maintained. In some of the raining areas arrangements are being made for pooling the vehicles in readiness for any
big demand which may be made. The vast majority of South Wales owners do not, possess more than six Or eight vehicles, and, except by co-operative effort; large parties could not he satisfactorily booked. It is for this reason that owners are likely to pool their vehicles on special occasions, although they will maintainindividual services throughout the season.
From an the large industrial centres in South Wales 'daily services will be run to the coastal resorts in the west of England and mid Wales, whilst half-day tours from mining centres, which have proved so popular in the past, will continue to be rim.
The question o‘f fares has caused South Wales owners a certain amount of anxiety, in view of the reductions in railway charges. It is felt that the corn: petition from the railways willaffect coaching rates, and•that a reduction of charges bearing a proportionate relationship to the reduction made in railway fares will be necessary. There axe certain owners who hold that those who prefer road travel are likely to pay a. slight increase for a motor coach Journey, irrespective of the comparative rail„ way charge. They are, however, in the minority, and it Is certain that a reduction on coaching rates prevailing in South Wales last year will be made.
The prospects for the forthcoming season are good. South Wales industry is becoming more stable and unemployment less acute, and for these reasons it is ex. pected that the public will spend money more freely.
There are three distinct classes of coaching services in South Wales. The mining population has a genius for organizing itself into neighbourly parties for a whole day's outing an the road, and for such excursions one or two vehicles are usually demanded. The in" dividual who spends his weekly halfholiday on a short coaching outing is amply provided for, whilst certain owner§ wIcA have found that there is a
demand foe extended tours have arrange itineraries ler long-distance runs of from two to ten days' duration.
The arrangements which have been made by the Motor Coach Department cif the Motor Clearing House, Wood Street, Cardiff, and Cambrian Motors, Ltd., Wells Street, Cardiff, for the forth'gaming season will give an idea of what is being done to satisfy the needs of South Wales tourists. Some 20 motor coaches are available for short and longdistance tours, and it has been found that the all-day trips are the most popular, and that the 28-seater coach is best fitted to meet these requirements.
Per the afternoon trips the use of 20seater vehicles is found most economical and convenient, and the same applies to the evening circular trips, for which a charge of 2s. 6d. is made for a threehour run. The daily tours started on Easter Monday, and in all nine different journeys are scheduled for the forthcoming season. The scale of charges for these trips has not yet been fixed, but
for each tour some reductien on last year's fare will be ma-dc.
The daily tours in South Wales commence at 9 a.m., the afternoon trips at 2 p.m., and the evening runs from the Cardiff district at 6.30 p.m.
The extended tours which have already been arranged include a five-days Welsh tour, starting from Cardiff, for which an inclusive charge of 8 guineas is made, as comp.ared with 10 guineas for a similar tou0 last season, and a tour to the Shakespeare country. The managers of the tours are Mr..
B A. E. Hiiey, of Cambrian Motors, Ltd., and Mr. F. C. Gerrish, manager of Tours Department, Cardiff Motor Haulage Clearing House, who can be cansuIted at the waitingrooms and at the booking office.