PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
Page 63
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
A BIG BUS COMPANY'S COACHING PROGRAMME.
Some Details of the Season's Programme of the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd,
TillIEE interesting developments have coincided with the opening of the 1925 motor coaching programme of the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd. These are :—(a) the company's advent °a an extensive scale into the sphere of long-distance operation ; 0.1) the opening of a handsome new coaching station in the city of Newcastle, and (c) the augmentation_ of the coach fleet by 12 of the most modern type S.O.S. all-weather coaches,
The new coaching station, which is situated in Westgate Road, Newcastle, provides the company with an ideal base from which to work its motor coach tours. This station provides the pleasure tourist with many facilities. There is a booking office and bureau from which alL information of the company's big list of tours to all parts of the country can be obtained. In addition, passengers are provided with a central and convenient starting point and they board the vehicles under cover on private premises, whilst for their further convenience waiting rooms and other accommodation are provided.
The fleet additions made in the course of the past month or two are no less interesting. The new vehicles are of the wellknown S.O.S. type, and are shod with pneumatic tyres which are used throughout the extensive " Northern " fleet, comprising nearly 300 machines. Of attractive appearance, the new machines embody the latest constructional features in coach-building and are provided with all-weather equipment.
The "Northern General" tours programme for 1928—quite the largest and most comprehensive the management has yet prepared—is well worth a brief description. In all this programme embraces 552 tours ranging from short half-day outings to 14-day excursions to the most distant parts of England and Scotland.
The whole-day and half-day tours cover all popular country and seaside resorts within 80 miles to 100 miles of Tyneside. In addition, extended tours are worked upon an extensive scale, as will be seen front the following summary :— In addition to the foregoing the company features a number of 5-day and 7-day tours in the West of Scotland, 7-day tours through the Shakespeare country and 14-day excursions in.England and Wales. The 14-day tour costs 122, and passengers are taken to some of the most attractive beauty spots in the kingdom, the accommodation throughout being at first-class hotels. The itinerary includes the Lake District, the Wye Valley, the Shakespeare country, Cornwall and Devon. During the season four of these tours will be operated. The 3-day Keswick the 5day Trossachs, and the 5-day North
Wales tours are worked on a weekly basis duringthe summer season.
On the long-distance-service side the company is equally enterprising. Last year it worked a daily coach service between Newcastle and other Tyneside places and Blackpool, with such successful results that this year there have been big developments. In addition to the Blackpool service, the company is now working daily services to Keswick, Manchester and Liverpool. These services are proving of value to holiday-makers who are unable to avail themselves of the ordinary extended route. In the case of the long-distance services pas
sengers can return en tirely at their own plea. mire, in the same way as by railway.
The Keswick service. is worked by way of Hexham, Alston and Penrith, and embraces some delightful scenery. The single fare is 9s., a big saving compared with the railway charge for the same journey, and the time taken, to reach Keswick is shorter than when the journey is made by rail. The Liverpool and Manchester route is by way of Darlington, Harrogate, Leeds and Oldham, a single journey mileage of about 175, the single fares from Newcastle being to Manchester 12s. and to Liverpool 14s. Vehicles leave. Newcastle and Liverpool at S.30 each morning.
The Blackpool route is via Barnard Castle, Kirkby Stephen and Lancaster, and vehicles leave New castle and Blackpool daily at 9.15 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. respectively. The single fare is 12s.
The company publishes a handbook which serves as a tours programme and guide, and contains brief details of the various journeys and of the chief places of scenic and historic interest passed en route.