Free fares work wonders
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A STAFFORDSHIRE independent has hit upon an effective way attract new traffic to a declining stage service. By providing a ter porary free service, it has boosted loadings tenfold and is prepari to try the idea elsewhere.
Stevenson Bus Services of Uttoxeter agreed to take over the direct service between Burtonupon-Trent and Rolleston, after it was withdrawn last month by National Bus subsidiary Trent, and proposed identical fares scales to those charged by Trent.
But Staffordshire County Council opposed the application, saying that the hourly service proposed by Stevenson was r enough.
Pending a Traffic Comm sioner's hearing last week, which the Council withdrew objection, Stevensons provici a free service along the rou and boosted loadings frc Trent's 60 to 80 a day as high 800 a day on occasions.
Company traffic manager , lian Peddle told CM that it came necessary to use doub deckers on the route,
Fares started to be charg from Thursday last week, a 202 paying passengers were c ried then, vindicating Mr P( die's belief that the company lstumbled — albeit accidenta — on an excellent form promoting the service.
He said the company wot certainly consider the idea agr for other short-distance rout "It's far cheaper to provide a ft service than to buy advertisir This way, we get good covera in local newspapers."
Mr Peddle added that the co pany is also looking at the pi sibility of offering introduct( cheap fares on a two-hou limited stop service which plans to run between Derby a Birmingham from the end this month.