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Feather Beds for Early Passengers .

4th August 1950, Page 24
4th August 1950
Page 24
Page 24, 4th August 1950 — Feather Beds for Early Passengers .
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

MANY bus operators have for some time expressed the opinion that concession fare,. for " workmen " are an anachronism. The view has been taken that one section of the public should not be required to subsidize another and that any financial advantage gained by abolishing workmen's fares should be awarded to passengers as a whole. This attitude was adopted also by the South Wales Licensing Authority when he allowed the Rhondda Transport Co.. Ltd., to replace special fares for miners by charges at the standard scale.

• Champions of the " Workman" The Transport Tribunal,, in its preliminary decision on the London Area (Interim) Passenger' Charges Scheme, apparently does not support this principle. The British Transport Commission proposed to abolish workmen's fares in London and to introduce a new system of early-morning concessions at higher rates than formerly. This scheme was strongly opposed by various interests on the grounds that the need for cheap travel by workmen in London was as great to-day as in the past and that, because of the destruction of houses during the war, many people had to live at high rents at greater distances from their work.

The Tribunal came to the conclusion that those, who had in the past enjoyed workmen's concession fares would be more adversely affected by the Commission's scheme than passengers who travelled later in the day (and were accustomed to paying high fares). Consequently, the B.T.C. was directed to us.e for the benefit of the earlymorning worker the sum of £1,000,000 which the Tribunal had decided was in excess of the Commission's reasonable requirements in revenue.

The principle adopted seems to be that the status quo, as it bears upon the various sections of the community, should be preservtd. Thus, the worker who—because he starts duty earlier than his fellows but now probably earns more than many of them—has always enjoyed the privilege of cheap travel, must continue to receive some financial advantage.

The Tribunal has reached a decision which it .considers just, having regard to the peculiar circumstances of London's population. It would, however, be dangerous if its ruling were to be taken as a precedent for use in the rest of the country. Bus operators throughout the Kingdom• are feverishly searching for ways of raising revenue, to meet heavily increased costs, without causing too great hardship to the majority of passengers. Concession fares obviously require investigation before a general increase in charges is considered. • ' No Case for Concessions In the provinces, at all events, the workman's ticket has ceased to be justified. Standard fares are much lower than in London and the distance travelled to work is generally shorter, so that the hardship created by the abolition of workmen's fares would be proportionally less. It is possible that had the Transport Tribunal been considering a scheme proposed by a provincial undertaking, its decision would have been different. It is to be hoped that the Licensing Authorities will continue to use their own judgment in individual cases and will not be influenced by a ruling that is applicable only to London.


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