I read, with interest, the article headed Boozers' Buses (CM
Page 26
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
July 8) and have since thought about this a great deal, and agree whole-heartedly with The Hawk's observations. It really is not worthwhile taking a party on any expedition for £75 covering 200 miles considering the fact that the running costs of any reasonably up-to-date vehicle, together with the standing costs per day, would amount to about this figure. Surely one must expect to operate for a profit in the same way that one would expect a profit from an equivalent amount of money invested, as is necessary for the purchase of a vehicle.
All the time that cheap transport is available for this type of expedition, the professional image which bona fide operators are striving to achieve, will noi be possible. Over the last few years, coach travel, on the whole, has become far more sophisticated with driver expertise both behiry the wheel and in customer relations becoming more essential. Managerial techniques have also attained a higher standard and I cannot state how strongly I feel that this tren should continue.
Instances such as that in print, which we all know still exist, should be discouraged both by individual operators and Associations; in fact, this is one field in which operator within an Association can d nothing but good by working together and educating those in the industry who continue to destroy the so-strived-for professional image and get us, once and for all, away from the charabanc image which has existed for far to long.
MARGARET E. HORLOCK Chairwoman, South Easterr, Coach Operators Association