Birmingham Seeks 2d. Minimum : Parking and Setting More Applications Heard Down for Festival
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WORKMEN'S fares will go up by Id. VV and ordinary fares, from the/ 11d. minimum to 44d., will be raised by id. if a Birmingham Corporation applica-, tion succeeds. Other proposals are to discontinue the issue and acceptance of workmen's tickets on Sundays, to increase certain higher fares by id., and to make slight alterations to children's rates.
At a meeting of the city council in January, the chairman of the transport committee stated that on the present fare schedules, the corporation would incur a deficit of £1,700,000 by 1954. Birmingham fares were last increased in July, 1949, when both bus and tram fares were raised. An application covering tram fares has also been made to the Ministry of Transport.
Accrington Schedules Modified .
Certain modifications to the fares structure of Accrington Transport Department were put into effect on April I. These included the abolition of ordinary return fares, except the 4d., which was increased by Id. and is now available on the day of issue only, instead of for three months. Workmen's double returns are also abolished.
A new 2d. stage has been introduced and alterations have been made to the children's fare schedule. Decikion on an application for increased fares made by joint operators with Accrington Corporation—liaslingden and Rawtenstall Corporations—is expected shortly.
Most of the changes proposed by Mid-Wales Motorways. Ltd., Newtown. Monmouthshire, have beengranted by the North-Western Licensing Authority. Weekly fares have been increased by 25 per cent., although this was not sug • gested in such terms in the application. Other fares are increased by between Id. and 3d.
Mansfield Applies General increases in fares proposed by Mansfield and District Traction Co., Ltd., were discussed before the East Midland Licensing Authority at Nottingham last week, A hearing before the Yorkshire Licensing Authority has already taken place and the arguments used previously were advanced in favour of the increases at this second hearing. The new rates proposed are estimated to yield an extra £51,000 a year from stage-carriage services, which, it was stated, are at present subsidized by other operations.
Revenue was falling and the estimated loss this year would be £10,000. The proposal to abolish season tickets would mean a 50 per cent. increase to those who had been using them, said Mr. K. Laing, traffic manager. The average fare per mile for such traveller! was 0.584d., which was absolute13. unremunerative. The same fart wat charged to-day as in 1932.
South Shields Corporation's plans to advance trolleybus and motorbus rates were described to the Northern Licensing Authority at Newcastle, last week.
c4 Proposals included the raising of the lid. minimum single charge to 2d, and corresponding changes of workmen's fa res.
For the corporation. it was stated that if the application succeeded, there would be a surplus of £2,265 next year, which could be used to help to eliminate the present deficit, now running at £13,000 a year and estimated to reach £26,000 next year.
Warrington Corporation is believed to be preparing revised fares schedules.
First in 24 Years Rotherham Corporation, which has not raised its fares for 24 years, is to seek authority for an increase. At the meeting of the council on Wednesday, the town clerk ,and the transport manager (Mr. W. Rylance) were instructed to submit. a draft application for a revised fares scale.
Since 1927 there has been no increase in fares, but it has now become apparent that this step can no longer be postponed. Recently some routes have been lengthened and one area is now served by three services, instead of four. The Greasborough route is to be converted from trolleybus to motorbus working.