Maidstone Told to Co-ordinate: "Northern" Applies for More
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DEFERRING his decision on the application of Maidstone Corporation for higher motorbus and trolleybus fares, the South Eastern Licensing Authority called for economies in services operated by both the corporation and Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd. During the hearing it was stated that another increase in fares might prove necessary in the future. The Authority replied that any such application would be viewed with great Jisfavour unless some move were made to eliminate all unnecessary services.
An increase in revenue amounting to £21,400 was expected to accrue from the new rates, if approved. It was pointed out that the undertaking was prohibited by its constitution from making any contribution to the rate fund out of profits. The policy had always been to provide the cheapest possible fares without making a profit.
.First Since 1949
The last previous increase was made in 1949. The new rates represented an advance of 28.4 per cent. on the motorbus fares charged in 1937 and of 32 per cent, on the 1935 trolleybus fares. Workmen's tickets would cost 73 per cent. and 85 per cent. more than in 1937 and 1935 respectively.
Trolleybus and motorbus fares on services operated at Hastings and Bexhill by Hastings Tramways Co. and Maidstone and District went up last Monday. Permission to introduce new rates on the trolleybuses, following a hearing on June 19, was given ,last week. Trolleybus fares up to 3d. went up by id., and tickets costing 4d.-9d. went up by id.
On September 20, the North-Western Licensing Authority is to hear the application of Manchester Corporation to raise all fares, including the I id. minimum. The number of corporation services affected is 111, and a further 63 services operated jointly by the undertaking and other company and municipal operators in the area are concerned.
Minimum of Id.
The basis of the application is the introduction of a 2d, minimum ticket, the raising of the 2d. ticket to 2id., and the reduction by one stage of the validity of fares of higher denominations. The maximum charge would become 8d., instead of 7d., if the application succeeded. It is expected that there will be much opposition to the application.
Some 250 routes are affected 'by the decision of Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., and its associated companies, Tynemouth and District Transport Co., Ltd., Tyneside Tramways and Tramroads Co., and Wakefields Motors, Ltd., to apply for new schedules. On fare stages up to and including 0.7 mile, no change is sought. An increase of 4d. on other single tickets up to 5d., of id. on fares over 6id. and of 2d. on fares over Is. 2/d. is proposed.
Return tickets will bear an additional ld.-3d. if the application succeeds, and 12-journey tickets will cost 10 per cent. more. Where protective fares are charged in agreement with municipal undertakings, fares will remain unchanged. This is stated to be the first general application made by the companies since 1913.
Joint services operated by Plymouth Corporation and the Western National Omnibus Co., Ltd., are concerned in an application received by the Western Licensing Authority. The routes operated by the corporation alone total 66, those jointly operated, 12, and those worked inside the joint-service area solely by the Western and Southern National companies number 15
Additions of id. to all single fares
from I and of id. to fares from 4d.-9d. are proposed by Merthyr Tydfil Corporation. These modifications apply to 14 services, and amended workmen's charges are proposed on 24 other routes.
Glasgow Application Lodged The new fares scales proposed by Glasgow Transport Committee, which include the reinstatement of the Id. tram fare, have now been filed with the Scottish Licensing Authority. A suggestion that the undertaking's finances should be investigated has been put before the committee by the city council.
At the council meeting last week, it was stated that the undertaking was losing £13,500 a week. Wages had gone up by £355,000, material costs by £290,000 and fuel costs by £171,000 in the past year.
After consideration of various proposals, Dundee Corporation suggests an increase of -id. on all bus fares. It is also proposed to issue books of tickets to save time on the buses.
Details of Blackburn Corporation's proposals have now been published.ss These include all-round additions of id. to single fares and Id. to returns. Most routes would then have a 2d. minimum rate.
Bolton Corporation proposes a similar move, instituting a 2d. minimum, and removing odd id. units from the fare schedules. It is aimed to increase revenue by £68,000 a year.
Revisions, including the abolition of the ls. all-day ticket, the restriction of the 2d. universal ticket permitting one transfer, increasing children's fares and variations to all single fares, are proposed by Sunderland Corporation. A new transfer ticket costing 2d. is also proposed.