"Road Does Not Take Rail Traffic"
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THE theory that increased road serI vices abstracted traffic from the railways was "bogus," stated Mr. F. D. Walker, for Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., before the Scottish Licensing Authority last week. The' company wished to increase the number of coaches on their Glasgow-Manchester night service, which operates from Easter to September and over Christmas and the New Year.
At present Ribble can run up to 10 coaches during the summer, a figure they wish to be raised to 22, and nine at the end of the year, when they want to operate 15. Opposition was lodged by the railways and the Western S.M.T. Co., Ltd.
Mr. Walker said that traffic had substantially increased over the past few years and Ribble were having difficulty in meeting demands. There had been no evidence to suggest that the railways had lost passengers. The railways' objection had been "grossly ovcrpai nted."
Mr. J. Allan, of the chief commercial manager's office, British Railways, Glasgow, said that the GlasgowManchester rail service was a backbone of the railways. It had been developed over a long period and if it did not show a great profit, it did "wash its face."
The Authority said that a case for increased duplication had been made out, but decision would be reserved.