Raise Fares, But Do Not Cut Service
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[VI-1EN a small bus operator applied Ili to the Scottish Deputy Licensing Authority last week to restrict a rural service in the winter to the week-ends only, he was advised to seek an increase in fares.
Mr. W. G. Low, the applicant, said that last year he lost £226 on his Timintoul—Dufftown service, without making any allowance for himself as driver of the bus, on which his wife was conductress. At present, the service was run every day except Wednesday. The Authority considered that the reduction sought was drastic.
Mr. Low said that his experience of increasing fares had been that traffic was lost. The Authority thought that people would not grudge higher charges, arid asked Mr. Low to consider applying for an advance and giving a better service instead of cutting it.
It was finally agreed, after various witnesses had given evidence of the difficult situation that would arise if the service were curtailed, that it be operated on Mondays and Thursdays as well as at the weekend, in which case permission would be given to increase fares.
This arrangement was to be given a trial for three months.