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W. C. Standerwick claims 10 p.c. passenger loss
Page 40
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• The manager of W. C. Standerwick Ltd's coach services, Mr R. McKay, told the North-Western Traffic Commissioners last week that applying for a 5 pm departure on Fridays and Sundays from Blackpool was a bid to stop a 10 per cent drop in passengers over the past three years. The applications were for the Blackpool-London and Colne-London routes which had suffered because of competition from British Railways and private cars.
Answering objections from BR that such a move might take passengers from the night service, Mr McKay said that he hoped the new timing would stem the recession. "I am trying to arrest what we have been losing," he said. Mr. D. Harrison, BR divisional passenger manager, said the service was self-supporting but there was a danger that BR could lose £91,000 a year if the applications were granted.
Questioned by Mr F. D. Walker, for Standerwick, Mr Harrison agreed that the improvement on rail services had hit road operators and that one of the attractions to travel by rail was that it was much quicker. On the other hand, the bus service was much cheaper and if both services left at approximately the same time some would be inclined to switch from rail travel.
Mr Backhouse asked the Commissioners to consider whether it was fair to superimpose on the existing rail service, with the variety of trains, a new road service which could only harm the railway.
Mr Walker said there was a market for both rail and road services, and asked the Commissioners to note that since the sailway had improved its services road operators had suffered and it was only reasonable to allow Standerwick to compete by improving its services.
The Commissioners reserved their decision.