FROM LONDON TO ESSEX CENTRES.
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Some Details of Daily Services which are Maintained by Enterprising Firms between Clacton and Colchester respectively.
IN our issue for last week we commented editorially upon the suitability of the passenger-carrying road motor vehicle for all-the-year-round use and stressed the need for operators to maintain their services, perhaps at skeleton strength, during the winter months, particularly on long-distance routes—even those to coastal resorts— in order that• goodwill built up during the better Iperiods of the year should not be sacrificed or appreciably injured. The utmost must, of course, be done to encourage public patronage in
the winter and it is in this connection that special attention should be directed to the features of comfort and convenience which are provided by the modern well-appointed passenger vehicle.
Messrs. Webber Bros, 57, Seymour Road, Honestly, London, N.8, the proprietors of the " Empire's Best" line of coaches running between ',olden and Claeton, are fully cognizant of these factors and, amirdingly, are arranging to maintain their services to this popular Essex coastal town during the winter months, It is obvious that the flow of traffic to a holiday resort like Clacton must differ very largely during the summer and winter and, although there may be comparatively only a few passengers making the complete journey between, say, October and April, they are offered the inducement of cheaper fares doting the winter period, whilst many people will undoubtedly avail themselves of the opportunity for travelling to different places passed en route.
During the past summer, the fares quoted by Messrs. Webber Bros. on this service were 8s. 6d. day return, 10s. 6d, for the mid-week period return and 12s. 6d. for the week-end period return, the period return tickets being available for use at any time within three months. . For the forthcoming winter the fares have been reduced to 8s. 6d. return for any part of the week, tickets still being available over a period of three months.
The firm first inaugurated the service in April last, when one coach was operated front London and from Clacton daily: Since that time, however, new machines have been put into service and three vehicles are now ran daily in each direction, coaches leaving Clacton at 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., the times of departure from London being 9 a.m., 2.10 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.— the lit-named with the exception of Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The coaches are licensed to ply for hire in both Clacton and Colchester,. but, although they possess this privilege, the firm does not in any way interfere with local bus services.
The following is a list of the winter fares to London from Clacton and different stage points on the route :- Messrs. Webber Bros. use Leylaacl Tiger saloon vehicles on this route, and the appointments have been so designed and arranged that every comfort is afforded to the passengers. Apart from comfortable seating arrangements, the interiors of the vehicles are heated.
One of the places passed en route is, of course, Coldhester, and to this centre Messrs: Battens, of East Ham, London, E., are also running a daily service. Two Associated Daimler vehicles are in use, the bodies of which were constructed by Hall, Lewis and Co., Ltd. . This service has only been in operation for a short time, having been commenced on October 1st, but the Proprietors tell us that the public support already accorded it has been satisfactory. Vehicles leave Bush House, Aldwych, London, and the parking place at Colchester, three times daily, the times for the outward jottrney from the Metropolis being 8.20 a.m., 1.20 Ian: and 5.50 p.m., and; in the reverse direc-, Con, 8.30 a.m., 1.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. '
In order to maintain the service, each vehicle is garaged, and maintained on alternate nights at Colchester, each vehicle thus doing one-and-a-half com plete journeys per. day. The route taken is via Stratford, Ronoford and Chelmsford. The return fare from London to Colchester is Be. and to Chelmsford 3s. ed., return tickets being available for a period of two months.