Scottish Group Applies: West
Page 34
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Hartlepool's First Since 1914
HAVING been successful in obtaining a general increase in fares a year ago, the members of the 'Scottish Omnibuses group have now applied again. A large proportion of the bus services in Scotland, as well as many on the border, are affected. The companies concerned, Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd., Western S.M.T. Co., Ltd., Central S.M.T. Co., Ltd.' %V. Alexander and Sons. Ltd., and David Lawson, Ltd., have filed identical proposals with the Scottish and Northern Licensing Authorities.
These provide for the addition of id. to all fares up to 6d., and for thc abolition of all return tickets up to this amount. Thereafter single fares may go up by Id. to 6d. in the range of tickets from 6d, to 5s. and, over. Returns may be raised by Id. to 6d. in the range from 6d. to 7s. and over.
Children's Fare lid.
Similar proposals are made regarding 10-, 12and 24-journey tickets and fourweekly school tickets, and it is suggested that workmen's daily tickets and children's fares be based on a minimum charge of 1id.
Altogether, approximately 1,700 services are concerned in the application. Scottish Omnibuses. Ltd., operates 444 of these, Western S.M.T., 476, General S.M.T., 126, W. Alexander, 653, and D. Lawson, 19.
At Newcastle, last week, the Northern Licensing Authority heard the application of West Hartlepool Corporation, for the first increases sought by the undertaking since 1914. It was stated that in 1950-1951 the department suffered a loss of £2,247. For the six months ended September 30, there was A loss of £5.110 on the motorbuses and £1,918 on the trolleybuses. Compared with the same period last year, costs had risen by £4,850 on account of wages and by £2,500 on account of fuel.
When the North-western Licensing Authority recently heard the application of Lytham St. Antics Transport Milanment, he congratulated it on its low operating costs. He said they were very creditable to everyone concerned. The application calls for an addition of id to the Id, ticket and to those over 3d.
Lytham's iS,000 Loss
In the year ended March 31, 1951, fuel costs had risen by over £5,200. Despite economy measures, the pndertaking would incur a loss of £8,000 in the current year with the present fares. Decision was reserved.
The East Midland Lice is in Authority last week heard the third application filed in the past 12 months by Derby Corporation. Apart from the proposal to reduce certain stage lengths, the main part of the application concerns the minimum fare, which it is proposed to make 2d. This was described as disastrous by objectors.
A deficit of £55,670 is expected on nest year's operations. The proposed Increases would augment revenue by *49,000 a year, the remainder of the A32 difference required to balance accounts being achieved by off-peak service reductions. Decision was reserved.
Following the introduction of new charges by Maidstone Corporation. Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., recently brought its fares into line in the borough.
Cieethorpes Corporation has now decided to apply for higher fares to deal with an estimated deficit of £2,000 on the current year's operations. It is believed that reduced stage lengths may be suggested.
Oldham Corporation and five joint operators have now applied for revised charges. These will represent an increase of id. on all tickets costing over lid., so that the Iid. minimum charge will be retained. Fifty-two services operated by the corporation are affected. aswell as 13 jointly operated routes.
East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd., has applied for permission to vary charges on 71 routes, and West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., has applied for permission to limit the availability of workmen's fares on 42 services. East Yorkshire proposes to add id. to 31d. and 4id. single fares, and to abolish return fares up to Is. 3d. Thereafter, it is proposed that return rates should advance by 2d. to Is., and contract rates by 25 per cent. Hull city fares are not affected.
Following the lead of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., Stratford-on-Avon Blue Motors, Ltd , has filed a similar general application.
Burton-on-Trent Corporation has now published its proposed higher charges. These will be id. above the existing rates if the application succeeds.
The second application of United Automobile Services, Ltd., in the past year, details of which appeared in "The Commercial Motor" dated November 16. will be heard next Tuesday. There will be about 20 objectors,