Low Fell awaits
Page 11
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LOW FELL COACHES must wait Newcastle service competing wit continue.
The Northern Traffic Commissioners have reserved their decision on the formal application for a full five-year licence, following the end of 12 months' operation on a trial basis. The continuation of the service is opposed by Tyne and Wear PTE, Tyne and Wear County Council, Northern General Transport, and United Automobile Services.
Peter Nash, the PTE's traffic manager, said that as a result of Low Fell's operation, one service had been withdrawn in the evenings and on Sunday. He estimated that PTE had lost £27,000 in revenue. That had been offset by savings of £19,700 as a result of the service reduction, which inconvenienced 127,000 passengers a year. If the Low Fell service was to continue, further action might be necessary to recoup losses.
He agreed the PTE had received no complaint from the public about the reduction of the service and agreed that the PTE had been asked to make further savings of £750,000 associated with the financing of the final two stages of the Metro rapid transit system.
In reply to Traffic Commissioners' chairman John Carpenter, Mr Nash said the unsupported Low Fell service should not be considered as part of the co-ordinated network.
Evidence was given by public witnesses about difficulties in coping with the Metro system and one likened the Gateshead interchange to a cattle market.
Robert Tindall, Low Fell's managing director, said traffic to see whether its Gateshead to h the Tyne and Wear Metro is to was increasing all the time and he was delighted with the loading. He was satisfied with the revenue of £25,464 and a net profit of 9.6p per mile. He denied a suggestion that the service • might not be covering the cost of operation.
, For Tyne and Wear it was said that the PTE was operating an integrated system which appeared to be working well. It would be extremely rash at such an early stage of the Metro to allow inroads to be made by private operators. The fact Low Fell had carried 100,000 passengers was not evidence of need for the service.
Michael Waller, for Northern General and United, said they did not want Low Fell. It was not