PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
A LANCASHIRE COMPANY'S COACHING PLANS.
Brief Details of the Comprehensive Arrangements Made by an Important Company who Run a Large Fleet of Vehicles.
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(\NE of those names which conk,/ tinually come to the fore when the progress of the motor-coaching movement is under consideration is that of the Lancashire T_Tnited Tramways, Ltd. still familiarly known as the
L.TJ.T.. although the title of the company-has lately been changed to that of the Lancashire United Transport and Power Co., Ltd., which is more in keeping with their growing ramifications. The company have had a long. and intimate association with the passenger road transport industry, although their operation of motor vehicles for passenger carrying has developed very extensively of recent years.
It was in May, 1914, that they started to run' motor coaches, but, consequent upon these chassis being commandeered, they were compelled to suspend this section of their activities during the war. It was in the spring of 1919 when these services were resumed, and about a yeaF later the company started the nucleus of their regular bus 'services. These have since grown to a considerable extent so that a network cf regular-service routes now connects and inter-connects with a hoat of important districts. More than 100 miles of routes, over which buses run to timetable, are now worked in conjunction with the tramways system.
But, for the moment, it is with the company's coaching activities that we are chiefly concerned. The L.L.P. fleet of coaches, which at present numbers approximately 100 vehicles, has always been kept well abreast of the times, and new vehicles, which have been added year by year, have always been purchased with an eye on the public's requirements and the trend of coaching development, it is not surprising, therefore, to find various types and capacities of motor coach in their fleet. There are vehicles to seat 14, 20, 23, 28, and 29 passengers respectively, so that practically any class of trade, from single-seat bookings to parties of large dimensions, can be dealt with. The smallest coaches are shod with pneumatic tyres, and some of the units are saloons which give every comfort and complete protection in any weather.
A fact worthy of special note is that every one of the LILT. coaches ha4 been designed expressly for passenger service, for which work it is solely and wholly employed. The springs, therefore, are never asked to withstand the stresses imposed by the dead weight of heavy goods. Furthermore, each vehicle is maintained in first-class condition by ensuring that it secures regular inspection and overhaul.
In addition to the coaches, the company run a number of six-seater Austin landaulets as part and parcel of their coaching arrangements, and these, they tell us, continue to prove their worth and utility every year. When, for example, a large works or club outing is organized, the landaulets are found very convenient for the use of officials, who can see that the organization is working smoothly and, when necessary, go ahead and make preparations or see that the arrangements for
receiving the party, are complete. Such cars also prove of value when dealing with parties too small for a 28-seater coach or too large for a 14-seater vehicle.
The company have arranged special facilities for single-seat bookings, a system for which the public has shown a preference. It is possible to book a single seat for, say, Blackpool on a Monday and to do the same for the return journey some.. days later. The L.U.T. are running regular services of coaches from Atherton—their headouartere—Mancirester and Liverpool to Blackpool (daily), and Southport, Chester and Llaagollen (thrice weekly), whilst Buxton and Winderraere also figure on the programme, and may be expected to -command the same attention as in past years. The company also keep a close watch on local events, such as sporting fixtures, likely to call for the use of coaches for transporting supporters of them.
In a booklet which the L.U.T. have just issued, and which gives details of their coaching plans and intentions for the 1926 season, it is shown that long-distance and long-date tours are entering more into holiday programmes. This booklet contains much useful information of interest to the potential tourist and to those who undertake the organization of tours. It gives a list of 102 places, the mileages (by direct routes) being quoted from Atherton, Manchester and ,Liverpool.
From the summarized 'particulars of tours we find that there are 66 tours from Atherton, at mileages ranging between. 50 and 150, and 82 tours from Liverpool, at mileages varying between 34 and 176. The variety of locale embraced by these tours 'is likely to meet the most exacting of tastes. Another useful feature is that giving the places "where to dine" and "where to garage" in a large number of towns and villages at which L.U.T. coaches call.
For the benefit of their patrons, the company have appointed a number of agents, these being stationed in Atherton, Blackpool, Bolton, Cadishead, l'arnworth, Golborne, Hindsford, Irlam, Leigh, Manchester, Pendleton, Walkden and Warrington.
The company make the proud claim that they have kept faith with every party making a contract, and therein lies the reason for their continued success, since the same sense of responsibility animates the whole of their coaching organization.