Corporations Tell How Bus Profits Vanished: Scholars' Fare Criticized
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TWO municipal bus undertakings told I the West Midland Traffic Commissioners, last week, how their estimates of a profit for the current year had been dashed by rising costs. For Wolverhampton Transport Department, it was stated that when they applied for higher fares last March they foresaw a surplus of £24,000. It now, seemed that there would be a defich of £39,000.
Walsall Transport Department said that when they were last granted increases they estimated that the under
' taking would make a profit of £11,000, but instead there would be a deficit of £46,000.
Mr. G. A. Harris, for Wolverhampton, said they wanted to add 4d. to ordinary single fares of 2d., and 2d. to morning concessionary fares between 4d. and 6d. inclusive. It was proposed to add 11d. to 41d. morning concessions. The children's ordinary fare of Id. would go up tu Costs of the undertaking were now £82,000 a year more than in last March, and the present application was the absolute minimum.
Walsall' Proposals For Walsall, Mr. B. F. Dale said they required Id. increases on fares between 2d. and 54(1., except for 24(1. fares and some at 3d. Increases of Id. were sought for fares over 6d. Children's and workers' fares would be brought into line with the new scale.
He pointed out that the estimated surplus, if the increases were granted, would be the " meagre " sum of £564. The Commissioners reserved decision in both cases.
When increases were granted to South Shields Corporation, the Northern Commissioners served notice on the departihent to show why the 4d. concessionary fares granted to scholars should not be abolished. Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, chairman, said they did not think it reasonable that an old-age pensioner or widow should have to bear the cost to the corporation if "a strapping 16-year-old" was paying id. for a 4d. fare.
Mr. A. Stansfield, deputy town clerk, said the corporation did not want to raise the special scholars' fare, which was introduced five years ago. Mr. Hanlon replied that it was not fair to ask the
travelling public to bear the cost of this concession.
The West Midland Commissioners granted increases to Salopia Saloon Coaches, Whitehurch (Salop), which will raise fares by between 4d. and 3d. Mr. H. W. 'Richards, managing director, said it was impossible to make rural services remunerative, but the new schedule would help them to "cut their losses."
'BUSES MAKE RAILMEN LATE FOR WORK"
POORLY connecting bus services were blamed at Glasgow, last week, for bad time-keeping by men working at British Railways' Coatbridgc locomotive depot. Mr. James Sharkey, a railway timekeeper, was supporting an application by John Carmichael, Glenboig, for an extension to Airdrio of his existing Kilsyth-Coatbridge bus service.
Mr. Sharkey claimed that his depot could lose up to a third of productive time through men missing their bus connections. About 60 workers living in Coatbridge would benefit by the proposed through service.
Objectors were Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd., W. Alexander and Sons, Ltd., and Baxter's Bus Services, Ltd.. Airdrie. Refusing the application, Mr. W. F. Quin, chairman of the Scottish Traffic Commissioners, said there, had been no material change from the position three years ago when the Minister of Transport upheld a similar decision by the Commissioners.
BUSES ON TWO FLOORS
A TWO-STOREY coach and bus ril.station is to be built in Liverpool by Ribble Motor Services, Ltd. Work has already started on clearing the site, and the project is expected to be completed in two years.
Buses will enter the station from Bolton Street, but coaches will use the Hilbre Street entrance to the second storey. A modern information centre will dominate an adjoining office block, handling inquiries and bookings for all Ribble services.
There will also be accommodation for clerical staff and officials, together with a staff canteen. The twin stations will handle 54 vehicles at any time and will he completely enclosed.