A COMPREHENSIVE COACHING POLICY.
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The Arrangements Made by a Prominent Lancashire Company for the Present Season, and Factors which have Contributed to the Success of Their Past Activities.
(AN many occasions in the past we 1...J have referred in this feature to the motor-coaching activities of the Lancashire United Tramways, Ltd., of Atherton, basics., and, a.s in' past years, the company have planned a really comprehensive schedule of tours for the 1924 season. The .L.U.T.—an abbreviation by which they have-become generally known—have done much to popularize the travel-by-road movement, but not at the expense of the status of the industry, for they are well aware of the harmful and lasting effects likely to arise from indifferent organization and the use of unsuitable vehicles.
As a matter of fact, the public demand for efficiency and comfort has relegated to the past the use of badly sprung and poorly equipped vehicles of slovenly appearance, and only in those districts where the spirit of competition is a nonexistent factor does any passenger-carrying vehicle of this kind stand a chance of securing patronage_
It is true that at the height of the season, when the maximum demand exists, it is a simple matter to obtain a full load for a coach of almost any size, but the coach owner's task is to obtain such loada for the longest possible period, and that aim can only be reached by ensuring that potential passengers—and they can afford to be discriminating -when strong efforts are made to secure their patronage—are assured the maximum of comfort add convenience. It is as a result of a proper consideration of these factors that the coaching tours of the L.U.T. have achieved success.
The company make the bald claim that they have kept faith with every party making a contrast, and correctly assert that this record could not have been. accomplished without the employment of efficient vehicles and careful drivers. Moreover, the coaches are maintained in first-class condition by giving constant attention to mechanical and other details. The vehicles have been designed for passenger carrying, and for this class of service alone are they used, so that the springs are never subject to the stresses inseparable from the transport of (lead loads.
The LILT. fleet of coaches consists of several types of vehicle—open types and saloons—with seating capacities of 14, 23, 28, 29 and 32 passengers. They also run a number of six-seater Austin landaulets, which, in the past, have been found most valuable for the use of officials in charge of a party (who can, when necessary, get ahead of the main body and ascertain that the arrange, remits for their reception are well in hand), and also for carrying a few passengers who cannot be accommodated in a standard ,vehicle.
According to a booklet dealing with the company's coaching arrangements for the 1924 season—which, by the way, is in its sixth year of publication—a most comprehensive series of itineraries is scheduled. From the summarized particulars of tours we note that there are 60 different trips from Atherton—the locate of the company's headqub.rtersand 32 that are run from Liverpool. The mileages of these journeys Vary from 34 to about 176, although 32 of them exceed the centurymark.
The -L.U,T. are running regular services of coachea from .Manchester, Atherton and Liverpool to Blackpool daily, and to Southport, Chester and .Llangollen thrice weekly. Buxton and Windermere—both popular coaching venues—also figure on •the programme, and will certainly be visited by many hundreds of passengers in L-U.T. coaches. Tho company have found that the public express a preference for singleseat bookings, and they have accordingly provided extra facilities in this direction. It is now possible to book a. single seat far, say, Blackpool on Monday and to de likewise for the return journey some days later..
Apart from daily runs, long-distance and long-date tours figure prominently in the company's holiday programme, whilst they lay stress on the fact that 4.hey are in a position to cater for extremely large parties as the result of the possession of an extensive fleet of vehicles.
We note that in the booklet it is sagely observed that it is not possible to detail rates for the present season, but, as in past years, the -public can be certain that the company will quote the lowest rates consistent with efficiency.