"SUEZ" SURCHARGES CONTINUE

3rd May 1957, Page 72

3rd May 1957

Page 72

Page 72, 3rd May 1957 — "SUEZ" SURCHARGES CONTINUE

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Substantive Applications Pending : Todmorden Fares Up: Service Cuts Maintained

pENDING applications for substantive increases in fares constituted "special reasons for continuing " Suez " surcharges, the Northern Traffic Commissioners ruled at Carlisle last week. They allowed Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., Cumberland Motor Services, Ltd., Blair and Palmer, Ltd., and five smaller operators to continue the surcharges until the substantive applications were heard.

When Todmorden Joint Omnibus Committee applied to the North Western Traffic Commissioners at Manchester, last week, for higher fares and reduced frequencies, it was stated that passenger resistance was becoming so great that a third of the yield from the proposed increases had been allowed for it.

Ribble and the other companies had been granted immediate dispensations to the end of the week to allow the present applications to be heard. Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, chairman of the Northern Commissioners, decided to hear them in open court, instead of in chambers, for the benefit of the public and in view of allegations that bus companies were trying to "hang on " automatically to the increases.

Ribble's Case

For Ribble, Mr. H. Bottomley. general manager, explained that the emergency increases—ld. on each single journey, with the 2i1 minimum unchanged for the country districts but the 1-1-d. minimum in Carlisle and town services raised to 2d.—were taken oil on 'Tuesday, with the exception of the 2d, minimum for town and city. services, and the country fare increases, which Were retained.

Dispensation was sought to maintain that position until the permanent fare application could be heard at Carlisle on June 4.

Increased costs since March; 1956, when the last normal advance in fares was made, included 175,000 a year for higher wages, £100,000 for fuel, irrespective of tax, and at least 125,000 for other items. The present dispensation, plus the proposed substantive increases applied for, would yield 1224,000 a year. It was also proposed to introduce overlapping fare stages on country services, which would reduce some 4d. fares to 2d. or 3d.

"Keep lid. Minimum"

Carlisle Corporation asked for the retention of the local 14-d. minimum, which, Mr. Bottomley contended, was now out or date.

Granting the dispensation, Mr. Hanlon said the ld. minimum could be debated when the fare application was heard.

He also granted .dispensation to Barrow Corporation, who had not applied for it. The corporation run jointly with Ribble on the BarrowUlverston route. The dispensation will continue for 14 days to allow discussions to take place with Ribble.

Mr. J. L. R. Croft, applying for dispensation on behalf of Cumberland Motor Services. said their last fare rise c26 was in January, 1956. Since then they had sustained increased costs totalling £64,000 a year. including 114,275 for wages. 12,500 for tyres and £18,000 for fuel. The last increase also yielded £26.000 less revenue than expected. In normal circumstances there would have been a further application early this year. It would now be heard on June 3.

Mr. R. Hunter, secretary of the Northern Road Transport Owners' Association, applied for dispensation for the joint operators of the Keswick-Seatoller scrvice—Weightman's Coaches (Lake Hotel Coaches). R. W. Simpson, T. Young and Son and W. L. Askew.

He explained that only Simpson's and Weightman's operated during the winter, and then in alternate weeks. C.M.S. ran at Easter and resumed again at Whitsun.

It was a system, • which. bordered on. the ridiculous," but it had been in. operation since 1933. Last year the service cost Js. 9d, a mile to work and revenue was is. 6d: a mile. The increase being asked for Was -}d. on fares up to and including 9d., and Id.. on the remainder.

Todmorden Traffic Down The continuing decrease of traffic resulted in a policy decision last October that an 8or 9-per-cent. decrease in Mileage was jUstihed, Mr: J. Mays, secretary of Todmorden Joint Omnibus Committee, told the North Western Traffic Commissioners.

The committee were asking for Id. advance on the Id., 2d., 3d. and 4d. fares to bring in an estimated £8,460 in a full year. Increases granted last year were expected to bring in £4,500 in a full year, but the receipts—excluding emergency increases—were £2,100, apart from which costs were £2,000 above the estimate.

Higher fares had already been granted in Yorkshire and were put into force on April 14. Those in the north-west were also out up at the same time by dispensation.

Mr. F. Williamson, chairman, said before making a decision on the frequency reductions the Commissioners would study the schedules and visit the area. The Yorkshire Commissioners would also be consulted. The fare increases would be granted.

Mr. R. E. Cox, Walsall Corporation's transport manager, said last week. that certain bus services, cut because of. the Suez crisis, would not be_restored now that the situation had improved. This was due to economy measures, and the West Midland Traffic Commissioners would shortly be asked to make the cuts permanent.

Chesterfield Corporation are also retaining the extra .41 imposed under the emergency regulations, and West Hartlepool Transport Committee are. Seeking permission to make a similar temporary increase permanent.

Edinburgh Town Council last week reversed a recommendation of the transport committee that the Scottish Traffic Commissioners should be asked -to authorize the continuance of the emergency surcharge for three months, pending a general revision of fares. Mr. W. M. Little, general manager, said that in the current financial year there would be a loss of 1221.000. The estimated loss for next year was £151,260, but the decision to remove the surcharge would raise the deficit to £351.860.

On Wednesday, Red and White Services. Ltd., introduced slightly increased fares, authorized by the South Wales Traffic Commissioners in January but held in abeyance during the emergency. The surcharge is retained on fares in the scale from Is. 1d. to 2s.

'The single fare on the EdinburghLondon coach service of Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd.. will be increased from £1 15s. to £2 on May 13, Coventry Transport Committee decided on Monday, subject to the approval of the city council and the West Midland Traffic Commissioners, to increase concession fares to enable the present 4d, fare to be reduced to 3d.