From Two to 90 Vehicles
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in 2 Years
An Examination of the Coaching Activities of the Merseyside Touring Co., Ltd.,Shows Remark able Growth
IN the three years that it has been in existence, the Merseyside Touring Co., Ltd., of Liverpool, has built up a fleet of about 90 passenger vehicles, 32 being coaches and the remainder buses. When the Merseyside company began activities, at the end of 1928, it had two motor coaches at call, one of T.S.M. make and the other a G.M.C., but they proved to be a powerful nucleus of the present organization. As the motorbus services have already been reviewed in The Commercial Motor, it is unnecessary to recapitulate the details of them, consequently we propose to limit our present survey to the coach section.
This large fleet comprises T.S.M Bristol, Leyland and Daimler 26seaters. All the bodies are of the saloon type with opening roofs.
In the construction of the bodies of the fine T.S.M. coaches, special attention has been paid to the passengers' line of vision, so as to give no cause for the complaints—which had been Maid and noted—that people occupying the rear seats frequently did not have an unhindered view of the road ahead. In the design of the new bodies the setts above the fear wheel-arches are raised 046 and from the higher position the occupants of the back seats have a clear view over the heads of the passengers seated at the front. The space created by the raising of the floor is utilized for the carriage of luggage, which Is loaded through a door at the back.
This year Merseyside Touring Co., Ltd., the booking and hire depot of which is in Islington, Liverpool, intends to make a feature of long-distance daily services, which recommenced in embryo form at Easter. When the season is more advanced a coach will leave Islington at 8 a.m. daily for Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, travelling via Buxton, Nottingham, Grantham and Peterborough, arriving at the destinations at 9.30 p.m. and 10 p.m. respectively. The fare to Great Yarmouth will be27s. single and 37s, 6d. return, and to Lowestoft 28s. 6d, single and 40s. return. This service was well patronized last year and frequently coaches had to be duplicated at Nottingham. In the height of the season, as many as five fully loaded coaehes daily left Liverpool. *
Another service which has become well established is that to Scarborough. During the season an average of 20 passengers per day joined the outwardbound coach, but last year, at weekends, as many as 12 fully loaded coaches were sent off.
The service coach leaves Liverpool at 9 a.m. and takes up passengers en route. There is a 45-minute halt for lunch at Leeds and the journey is usually completed by 5 p.m.
A Special Luggage Van.
At week-ends, when passengers' luggage amounts to a Tabstantial quantity, this is conveyed in a motorvan which follows the coaches to Leeds, or beyond, and arrives at the destination in tithe for the passengers to claim their belongings. No extra charge is made for this service. To Scarborough, 140 miles away, the fare is 15s. single and 22s. Od. return.
The Merseyside concern operates also a series of West of England daily services comprising the following:—
Fares.
Single. Return.
Liverpool to:— s, d. s. d.
Boatel ... 15 0 27 6 Bristol and Ilfracombe 25 0 43 0 Bristol and Torquay ... 25 0 44 6 Bristol and Bournemouth ... 22 6 40 0 Bristol and Weston-super-Mare 18 9 32 0
Last season bookings on these services, were most satisfactory, particularly on Saturdays, and there were occasions when 18 coaches, all loaded to capacity, left Liverpool for Torquay. All the West of England journeys commence at 7.30 a.m. It is noteworthy that last season 75 per cent, of the total :Caach'seats on the various services were revenue earning.
In. addition to' -the long-distance coaches, the 'Merseyside company operates a twice-daily service to Blackpool, coaches leaving Liverpool at 10 -a.m. and 2.30 p.m. The journey is one of 96 miles (return) and the dayreturn fare. is 55. and the period-return ticket 8s. Whenever there are surplus coaches which are not required for service, they -are put on to the Blackpool stands for chance traffic.
The Merseyside Touring C9., Ltd., is an agent for the Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., which works daily serviCes. from Liverpool to London and Liverpool to North Wales. Leyland Tiger saloon cnaches are used for these journeys.
Private Hire and Day/ Tours.
Additionally, the Merseyside -undertaking makes a speciality of privateparty work and special day tours. and in a well-printed pamphlet gives a list of suggested day trips, together with prices. For the convenience of people making arrangements for holidays, advaace information is Gent to booking agents in various districts, so that prospective passengers can plan their holidays economically and efficiently.
Surprise tours, including a first-class lunch and tea, are to be repeated this season. The coach driver will leave the depot with a mysteriouslooking package, "sealed orders," which must not be opened until he is 10 miles from Liverpool. That the drivers loyally carry out their instructions is confirmed by secret checks.
Twenty-two eoaclies with accommodation for altogether 572 persons were scheduled for journeys to the Grand
National on March 27th.,-The coaches
were loaded at the to Isling'n depot and the Pier Head, and they travelled to Aintree Racecourse (a distance of four miles), where good positions were reserved in the Well-situated carriage enclosure.
Ntmerous 'main. and sub-agents in the suburbs act as booking agents for the , company. The system of working provides for the efficient oovering of the districts because the main agents, who receive the full commission, supervise the sub-agents who are appointed by them. The Sub-agents receive a share of the main agents' commission, the latter retaining the difference in payment for their work. In these circumstances it is only to be expected that the main agents will see that the booking offices, which are under their care, function actively and efficiently. An original feature of this season's plans is the arrangement which has been made with a local store proprietor, who has opened a booking office for the Merseyside coaches in his busy Liverpool premises.
Winter Activities.
During the winter the Merseyside Touring Co., Lid., concentrates on private-hire work, and the conveyance of football and dance parties. For football parties a minimum charge of 2s. per person is made, but the procedure for dance parties is somewhat different, as usually the coach is hired for an inclusive fee. On exceptional occasions, when passengers are booked separately, the minimum rate for city journeys works out at about 1s. 6d. per person. Week-end tours are arranged as opportunities offer themselves.