Backing for Northern Roadways : Duplication Cut
Page 40
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ENDING that there was ample evidence of need for additional road services from Edinburgh and Glasgow to .London, the Metropolitan Licensing Authority, Brig. R. J. 0. Dowse, has granted backing licences to Northern Roadways, Ltd., for these routes. One vehicle in each direction and to each destination is authorized, with one duplicate on each route from May In September and over Christmas. This is a reduction of the Scottish Licensing Authority's grant, which authorized three duplicates. '
In his decision, Brig, Dowse referred to the question whether the additional services should . be operated by Northern Roadways, Ltd., or by Scottish Omnibuses. Ltd., which held a monopoly on the Edinburgh-London and Glasgow-London routes. Until the outbreak of the war, S.M.T., as predecessor of Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd., had shown a strong desire. to augment these services.
Pre-war Duplication
Since 1939 there had been a change of policy, for, despite admitting that all requirements could not be met, only pre-war duplication had been asked for by S.M.T Only after the Scottish Licensing Authority had granted the application of Northern Roadways to run the services had the Scottish Omnibuses Ltd., applied for additional duplication.
There was, said Brig. Dewse, a great enough difference between the fares of Northern Roadways, Ltd., and those of Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd., and Western S.M.T. to prevent unfair competition. He was also satisfied that the timetable, as contemplated, would not infringe Section 19 of the 1930 Act, provided that the special arrangements for changing drivers on the route were carried out.
May 7 has been given as the date when the new service will start. Mr. H. McGhee, managing director of Northern Roadways, Ltd., commenting on the decision, last week, said that at the time of the original application to the Scottish Licensing Authority last February, there were about 500 inquiries for bookings. Now there were nearly 20,000. No bookings had been accepted in London, despite many inquiries, and Mr. McGhee said that in view of the '-reduced number of vehicles it was unlikely that passengers for Scotland would be picked up in London. " For several weeks of the year," said Mr. McGhee, " we have bookings to fill four coaches, and if we' accepted all thOse who Want to travel we would have to run another eight vehicles. We will be fully employed carrying passengers who have booked in Glasgow • and Edinburgh for the return trip."
NORTHERN GENERAL TOURS PROGRAMME . IN addition to " Easy-Way " holidays at Blackpool, the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., Newcastle upon Tyne, is to run 19 holiday tours this year to various parts of the country. They vary between three days and 10 days in length.
One attraction is a 10-day tour of Britain at £25 inclusive. A seven-day tour to London and the south-east coast costs £17, and a three-day tour to Galloway and the Ayrshire coast is priced at £6 10s.
Several day', half-day and mystery tours are also planned. Continental tours are arranged in association with Sheffield United Tours, Ltd.
ABERDEEN RATES NOW RISE
ABERDEEN sub-area of the Road Haulage Association has recommended an increase in rates of 7+ per Cent., to be effective from May 1. On February I, other Scottish sub-areas raised their rates by this amount, but Aberdeen did not.
These other sub-areas recommended a further increase of 2f per cent. as from May 1.. Aberdeen rates will therefore still be below the general level, as Mr. J. Scott MacLachlan, subarea secretary, has pointed out.
BIG DROP IN REGISTRATIONS N every category excepting exempt 1 vehicles, registrations of new vehicles, other than cars and motorcycles, showed a big drop during February. The total for the month, excluding cars and motorcycles, was 11,971, Compared with 15,145 for January. Details are given in the table below.