Northern Roadways Gets Licence for Scotland-London Services
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A LICENCE to run nightly services 1—kfrom Glasgow and Edinburgh to London, in competition with the State-owned companies, was granted, last week, to Northern Roadways, Ltd., by the Scottish Licensing Authority. Backings have yet to be authorized.
The managing director of the company, Mr. Hairy McGhee, stated that the services would start in May. Fares would be £2 single and £3 10s. return, with half-fares for children under 15 years old.
The 30-ft. long, 8-ft. wide bodies of. the A.E.C. vehicles to be used are at present under construction by H. V. Burlingham. Ltd., Blackpool. Thirtytwo adjustable aircraft-type seals are to be installed, arranged so as to provide maximum leg-room. At the rear will be a chemical closet and a small serving bar. Heating will be supplied from pipes laid at floor level. Individually controllable lights will be filled over each seat.
The crew will consist of two drivers and a hostess who will provide passengers with snacks, rugs, pillows, newspapers and, if necessary, travelsickness pills. During the summer, the companY intends to run 16 coaches each night. The Licensing Authority stated that the services would cater for those who thought that railfares were too high, but that existing road facilities were lacking in comfort. .He added that the present road services were not adequate. Rail fares had risen by 60 per cent.
since 1933, whilst -.coach fares had mostly remained steady. To-day there wag no limit to the distance that people were willing to travel by coach.
Permission was also granted to pick up passengers at Hamilton and Lockerbieon the Glasgow run, and at Hawick on the Edinburgh route. .
At-present_ the only operators on the Scotland-London runs are the Western
S.M.T. Co., Ltd., and Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd., formerly the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd. They have been working the routes for about 20 years. Fares on their services are 30s. single and £3 return, with halffares for children under 14.
Northern Roadways. Ltd.', also applied for permission to run express day services from Glasgow to Liverpool, Manchester and Scarborough. Luxury coaches would also be used on those,, routes.
The Scottish Licensing Authority has also granted Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd., and the Western S.M.T. Co., Ltd., permission to add four more vehicles a day on the Glasgow-London and Edinburgh-London services during the Festival of Britain period. "We trust that we are not being unduly optimistic in hoping that for the Festival of Britain year, anticipations of increased traffic will be realized. We welcome these applications," he commented. He added that there were indications that even in normal times there was difficulty in making bookings.