King's Cross Station Opened
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LAST Monday, the Minister of Transport, Mr. A. T. Lennox-Boyd, officially opened the coach station at King's Cross, instituted by Park Developments, Ltd. Mr. Ian Mactaggart, director of the company, said that at last they had been able to give the public and private operators a reliable service. He had always believed that private enterprise ought to be able to produce everything necessary for the public, and the company had been formed to provide this coach station and other parking sites all over London.
The Minister said that 80 per cent. of the kerb space in central London was occupied by parked vehicles during the working hours of the day. This was clearly a situation which could not rontinue and which no Minister of Transport could tolerate indefinitely. To alter it, however, demanded interference with people's habits. A good way out was found in such an excellent station as this. Taking coaches off the road and putting them here would expedite transport without blocking Streets.
The general manager of the company. Mr. F. T. Auld, said that they . were fortunate in their operators, who had kept prices down, although their coaches were second to none, as were their services. He hoped that further licences would be made available to those operators who had remained ' independent. He referred to many important places to which private services were not yet available and he hinted at the need for facilities to drop and pick up passengers on the longer runs.
Mr. J. H. Ewer, chairman of George Ewer and Co., Ltd., expressed thanks to the company on behalf of the express-service operators. He congratulated Park Developments, Ltd., on the excellent facilities provided.
Mr. Robert Barr, chairman, Wallace Arnold Tours, Ltd., also spoke.