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THE SCOTTISH Traffic Commissioners have reserved decision on an application by a second independent to operate a stage service into the centre of Glasgow following the lifting of the Strathclyde PTE monopoly, after hearing that it could cost the PTE £0.25m a year.
Mrs H. Bennett, trading as Bennett's of Kilwinning, applied for a licence for a service between Ardrossan and Glasgow travelling via Saltcoats, Stevenston, Kilwinning, Irvine, Barrhead, and Pollok. The application was opposed by Strathclyde PTE, British Rail, and Western SMT.
Earlier this month the Commissioners refused the major part of a proposed service by McGill's Bus Service Ltd, for a service between Barrhead and Glasgow, because of the pos' sible impact on the local rail service (CM February 6).
Bennett's proposes operating 23 return journeys per week over a more direct route than taken by existing services operated between Ardrossan and Glasgow by Western SMT.
For Stratchclyde, it was said that the proposed operation was against regional council policy. The council had recently taken a decision to electrify the rail line from Glasgow to Ardrossan and Ayr at a cost of £35m. Abstraction of traffic from the rail service would have an adverse effect on revenue and the grant of the application would set a precedent for other applications jeopardising the future of the electrification proposals.
If Bennett vehicles were loaded to capacity, the revenue lost to that service alone could be as much as £250,000 it claimed.