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Commuter services
Page 6
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set-back by CM reporter COACH operators are watching the position on starting new commuter services. One, at least, is going ahead with an application to the Traffic Commissioners.
It is likely, particularly in the South East, that more would be applying but for a Commons decision on Tuesday.
Mr Ian Gow (Conservative, Eastbourne) was refused leave to introduce a Bill to allow free-enterprise bus operators to compete with services at present provided by local authorities, the NBC and the STG.
The measure, the Transport (Amendment) Bill, would substantially relax the criteria applied by the Traffic Commissioners, so that a licence could be granted provided that safety provisions were complied with.
Mr Gow claimed that the Bill was particularly relevant at a time when rail fares were about to be increased for the fifth time since June 1974.
It would allow "the fresh breezes of free enterprise to blow through the bus industry, thus providing a better and cheaper service to the customer."
Waste and bad service would continue unless the provision of bus services could be made subject to market forces, he said.
At present coach operators wishing to operate new stagecarriage service have to "prove need" and have to answer objections from other operators who consider they are providing an adequate service.
Gastonia Coaches of Granleigh, Surrey, have an application coming before the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners on April 22 to run a service between Cranleigh and Waterloo, London. (CM February 27.) The company claims that it could make the journey to London in two hours using a 57-seat coach at a cost of El return and says that this would save commuters 92p a day.
A previous application to run the services was opposed by British Rail and the NBC and was refused by the Traffic Commissioners. This time, it is understood, that three NBC concerns, National Travel, London Country and Alder Valley, together with British Rail, will appear as objectors. Had Mr Gow's application to introduce the Bill been granted, the picture might well be very different.