PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
MOTOR COACHING AT MORECAMBE.
A Popular Centre for Road Tours in which Vehicle Owners Have Appreciated the Folly of Cut Rates.
THE motor-coach movement in Morecambe suffered last year from cut rates, but those who instituted the procedure received such a salutary lesson that it is probable that last year's practice will net be repeated. Steadily the prices for the recognized runs were brought down until the largest fleet owners,. who had done their best, to maintain fair rates, determined to take action, and made it possible at the end of the season to book seats for a run to Keswick, a distance of 120 miles, for 5s. for the return journey, and to Blackpool, a distance of 60 miles, for 3s.
The small coach owners, who. had started the loads-at-any-price practice, began to look about then, and although the losses incurred in combating the short-sighted plans of ithese proprietors were heavy, one owner remarked to a representative of The Commercial Motor that he believed the ultimate effect produced was worth the expense, as he felt convinced that all owners • saw the anomaly of the whole position, and that they had now come to
realize that loyalty was essential if the industry and those engaged in it were to thrive.
At all events there appeared to be a better feeling prevailing among coach
owners when the present season opened. During the winter there had been a good deal of talk among those engaged in the industry, for the first time a dinner was held, and generally there appears to be a much better spirit in existence. So far there has been no sign of price-cutting, and the coach Owners and drivers are a much happier family.
There are over 100 coaches operating front the town, and the nor
potation has made the arrangement whereby free standing room on the best part of the promenade is provided for the vehicles from 9 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. for those engaged on day trips, and from 1.30 p.m. to 3 p.m. for coaches running on afternoon trips. The question of fares was discussed during the winter and a scale has been fixed of 8s. 6d. for the journey to Keswick on large-capacity coaches and 10s. 6d. on small coaches.
The Reswice tour is the most popular run from Molecambe, and deservedly so in view ot the eplendid Lakeland scenery, the join-nay to Blackpool being next in order of popularity, with South.port figuring well amongst the longer journeys and such places as Grange, Silverdale, Kirkby Lonsdale and Ingleton well to the fore. With a wide range of attractive tours from which to choose there is little wonder that motor coaching is popular among visitors to Morecambe, and for this reason it is difficult to understand why owners have considered it necessary in the past to eeeince-fares to an absurd limit in order to get. patrons.
A leek of proper costing systems among small owners has been suggested as the most probable cause of cut eates, and it is pointed out that many owners do not always -realize that it is a suicidal police to run for a little more than the cost of petrol and oil, as some of them have done in the past. Most coach owners are beginning to realize that, whilst it may be possible to run for p. short time without paying due heed to certain charges associated with running and upkeep costs these must inevitably be taken into account.
Fluctuating prices do not gain for ewners the confidence of the public, and apropos of the influence of this factor we were told that last year when the fare to Keswick was brought down to an exceedingly low figure owners in most cases declined to hook parties* on this tour, but evould accept them for Ingleton, a much shorter distance, at the same fare. Would-be passengers to Keswick naturally enough expressed surprise at this attitude, and the matter was freely commented uphn. During the past winter there have been very few additions to the fleets of Morecambe coach owners, and the onevehicle owner still predominates in the town, The mast recent additions have been small vehicles, chiefly because ef the ease with which a full load can be secured for such. coaches, and in many cases higher charges are made for what are described as " small cars,"
Many of the small owners are entirely dependent upon bookings on the public stand, although some of the larger companies have their own booking offices and also utilize the assistance of shopkeepers in securing patronage for their coaches. The period allowed be the Corporation in which an owner without permanent booking offices can obtain .a load is not very long, but where two or more owners get only sufficient passengers to fill one coach arrangements are freely made between the various drivers, or men in charge, in order to save the need for undertaking a jeerney with an increased number of empty seats.