HEAVY COACHING TRAFFIC THIS CHRISTMAS
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IT has been a surprise to many in the industry to learn that the coach traffic handled this Christmas has, in many cases, far exceeded that of a year
ago. London Coastal Coaches, Ltd., from its station at Lupus Street, Loudon, S.W.1, records an increase of about 22i per cent, as against last Christmas, this covering bookings made only at the station itself for journeys from London, and not including agency business, the traffic from coastal and provincial towns to London, or any of the through bookings from the south coast to the north and vice versa.
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Between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve, 35 coaches left for Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow, these vehicles belonging to the Orange, United, S.M.T., and Midland undertakings. During Christmas Eve, about 50 coaches
left for Brighton. The East Kent departures were, in most cases, quadruplicated, and there was heavy traffic late on Christmas Eve to the Mid lands, also on the South Wales services of the Black and 'White concern. The Royal Blue line to Bournemouth did exceptionally well.
The station was busy until noon on Christmas Day, moderately busy on Boxing Day, and dealt with a goad deal of return traffic on Sunday. The services of the Southdown and Aldershot and District companies did not operate on Christmas Day. The new London Coastal station in Buckingham Palace Road is expected to be ready about the end of February.
The London Terminal Coach Station, Clapham Road, London, S.W.9, estimates having dealt with approximately 30 per cent. more traffic than at Christmas a year ago. On this occasion far more people joined the coaches at the station than previously and fewer at the picking-up points. This did not, however, congest the public rooms and leading arrangements at the station, where 113 coaches can load at once in the forecourt alone, whilst 30 or more coaches can be dealt with at the covered platforms. • The South Wales services of the Cliff and Great Western Express undertakings were exceedingly well patronized, and there was practically a continuous flow of traffic from Wednesday night until late on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day was quiet, whilst on BoxingDay and Sunday a large amount of short-distance traffic was dealt with.
The new King's Cross Motor Coach Station, although not yet completed, handled a large volume of Christmas traffic, mainly for the north. Late on Christmas Eve about 300 coaches were dispatched, as many as 50 vehicles being dealt with at a time, and on Christmas Day nearly 150 coaches were sent off before 10 mm, There wag a lot of return traffic on Boxing Day and Sunday. It may be noted that the basement garage at this station is now available for coaches that have to park in London. It is just short of an acre in extent and will accommodate 100 vehicles. This huge station should be quite complete by Easter.