Coach Allowance Pegged for 24 Years
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THE vehicle allowance of the Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd., on their Huddersfield-Skegness licence has not been changed since it was granted 24 years ago, the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners were told at Leeds last week. They were hearing the company's application for five extra vehicles on the licence during certain holiday periods. British Railways objected.
Yorkshire Traction also sought a new licence for excursions and tours from Rossington, during Rossington and Doncaster holiday weeks, to Skegness. Scarborough, Llandudno, Cleethorpes and Blackpool. This was opposed by the railways, Doncaster Corporation, G. H. Ennifer, Ltd., and J. H. Barras, Ltd.
On the first application, Mr. R. Coutts, traffic manager, said the company asked for an increase in 1938, but it was refused. They were allowed to run air extra vehicle froth Huddersfield during the Huddersfield holiday, but no increase was permitted for Barnsley and Dearne Valley holiday weeks. The popularity of Skegness was increasing because people were turning away from Blackpool.
Mr. W. R. Hargrave, for Yorkshire Traction, criticized the evidence given by the railways about their facilities from Huddersfield. On August 9, last year, he said, a train with 572 seats was shown as carrying 700 people, and on August 23 another 572-seater carried 590 people. Either the railways had no accurate loading figures, or they did not worry about passengers' comfort, he suggested.
Giving evidence on the second application, Mr. Coutts said Rossington, with a population of 11,000, was four miles from Doncaster, and its railway station was closed last year. There were no licensed facilities there, and at present a great deal of the work was being done on private hire by outside operators. A service into Doncaster was operated by the three road objectors and Rossie Motors, Ltd.
Cross-examined by Mr. Goss, for the road objectors, he admitted that last year the company made Rossie Motors their agents in Rossington. Yorkshire Traction had hired vehicles to Rossie Motors from Doncaster, thereby providing a through service to the coast from Rossington.
In evidence, representatives of the road objectors complained that Yorkshire Traction had retimed their express services from • Doncaster to link with Rossie Motors' services from Rossington.
The hearing was adjourned, and the Commissioners will give a decision on both applications together.