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PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.

The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.

COACHING IN THE DOWNS COUNTY.

The Activities of Hastings Proprietors. The Views of a User who has Cut Rates.

1 N OUR last week's issue we described the coaching operations of Messrs. Timpson's, of Rualtey Green, Catford; London, SE., who were the pioneers of the London-Hastings-Lon•don coach services. The company's activities are controlled from the London headquarters, although a number of licences are. also taken out in Hastings Joy vehicles running on services around this prominent seaboard town, theft runs being arranged in oollaboration with Messrs. -Skinner's, of Western Road, St. Leonards,

This latter company has been established well over half a century, and is owned and controlled by Messrs. J. and F. Hickman. They claim a long association with passenger vehicle operation, dating back to the -days when the horsed coach held supreme away, but, in the hands of progressive men, the business has developed concomitantly with the growth of the motor industry, substantiation for this fact being found in the motor coaches which are at present in their possession. Ikost season seven vehicles served the public interest, these being five Leylands (four 28-seaters and one 32-seater) and two Daimlers (a 28seater and an 11-seater), and for the coming season two Leyland 28-seaters and an 11-miter Daimler will make their debut.

. Messrs. Skinner's have been agents for Leyland vehicles for 12 or 13 years, and that they have faith in the chassis which they market. is reflected by the make of the greater part: of the fleet. As a matter of fact, one of the features of the Hastings services is the dual interests of several companies, who, apart from being coach proprietors, also act as commercial vehicle agents.

• The season at Hastings extends from Easter to October, and although this is longer than in many seaside towns, its duration has had a hearing on the type of road-bine which has gained popularity, although opinions on the comparative values of 28 and 32 seaters are fairly

evenly divided. All the bodies on Messrs. Skinner's coaches are of conventional design, the seats being of -the ordinary undivided type. Armchair seats a-re not in favour because bodies incorporating this met-had of construction entail a sacrifice of passenger space.

Moreover, as the major portion of the coach business from Hastings is Confined to day and half-day tours, it is questionable whether the need for more luxuri onsly appointed vehicles exist at all. Half-day runs are the most popular with visitors, for the simple reason that boarding-house and hotel terms are usually arranged en pension, and holidaymakers do not feel disposed to pay for meals which they would be obliged to miss on day excursions. The inclusive running costs for Messrs. Skinner's larger machines last year were 2s. 3d. per mile.

The Central Garage (Hastings), Lid., of Waldegrave Street, also cater with their four 40 h.p. Thornycroft coaches, which are equally divided between 28 32 seaters, for day and half-day tourists. This company was established in 1912, and started running coaches in 1919, their vehicles being known locally " The Yellow Coaches." They are district agents for Thorny-croft chassis, and their coach bodies were built by Messrs. Gills. of Chilworth Street, Paddington, London, W.

During the season the company, the managing director of which is Mr. Wright, will act as booking agents for the South London Coaching Services, of 80, Manor Street, Clapham, London, S.W. The hoods on the Central Garage.

coaches are of.the ordinary type, but by altering the position of the body streng thening irons, the hoop sticks are sup ported in the middle of their length instead of at their ends. • Eaoh of the vehicles covered 13,000 miles in the 1921 season on an average petrol consumption of 7-8 m.p.g. The'oompany show a pre fereoce for Macintosh tyres, one set of which completed over 30,000 miles' running last year.

It is pleasingto observe that most coach owners in Hastings are dead against the use of passenger-carrying vehicles 5or goods haulage during the winter, and in almost eyery case chassis and bodies are completely overhauled during the close-season.

In spite of phenomenal weather during last year, the 1921 season in Hastings was not so good as in 1920. Practically the whole of the season the coaching business was all sixes and sevens due to the demoralising influence of cut rates.

It is expected that fares will be lower during this season, although petrol; wages, and other standing charges, with the possible exception of tyres, have not appreciably fallen. Proprietors -axe hoping for a fair working basis this year, which it was found impossible to maintain last season, when efforts were made to force into line a proprietor who was running advertised trips at much cheaper fares' than those generally prevailing.

Mr. A. V. E. Mitchell, of 16, Castle Street, has in one of the windows of his v and taxicab premises a framed photograph illustrating "our

saloon char-a-banes that broke the local ring." Mr. Mitchell's views on the subject of out rates are that if he is able to run at a fair working profit (and he maintains that he is) at the fares which he charges, other proprietors should be able to do so.

It is said that most of the prominent

OWIle 1'8 in the town each contribuced four-figure sum-to a pool last,year with an intention which is fairly obvious.

Money was drawn from this pool by these owners to cover the diffeeenc,e be.' tween working expenses and fares charged.

• The matter of cut rates in Hastings is a very difficult question, but we rather view it as six of one and half-a-dozen of the other. If a proprietor cuts rates to such an extent that he incurs a loss, or runs at a profit which is not mifficierit to cover depreciation and other standing charges, he will eventually go beyond his depth and sink liimeelS; but if his rates are high enough to provide a remunerative return, then those charging

higher fares are obviously not serving the public interests to the best advantage. This is a logical and impartial ' view of the position, and instead of endeavouring to cut one another's throats, it would he preferable for the owners to 'settle the matter by arbitration. One side or the other is at fault.

For instance, whiAle other proprietors were charging lh, for the journey to London last year, Mr. Mitchell ran for Is. 6d., which figure provides, in his opinion, a remunerative return, after due allowance is made for all contingencies. Another example of divergence in fares was to be found in the trip to and from Eastbourne. Whereas Messrs. Chapmans, of Eastbourne, were charging 7s. for the journey to Hastings, proprietors in the latter town, on account of cut rates, were only getting 4s. 6d. Between these two places the .main road is very narrow, and proprietors in each place have agreed to outward and homeward journeys being made by different routes in order -to obviate the need for vehicles passing one another on the road.

Mr. Mitchell fixes his fares so that they will appeal to the majority, for, as lie says, it is better to run with a full load than half a load. It pays better, and the mechanism suffers less wear and tear, especially with pneumatic-tyred coaches, which hold the Toad better with a full lead_ In his opinion, the man who caters for the million is the man who is going to get the business.

Whether this be the case or not, there is no gainsaying the fact that the growth of Mr. Mitchell's business has been remarkable, at any rate, for a one-man concern. He started with one Republic

20-se,eter coach on Good Friday last year, , and before the curtain was rung down on t.). e season he was the possessor of six oth r vehicles, these being four Republic (tw. 20-seaters and two 26-seaters) and two Guys (for 30 and 25 passengers re-. epe aveiv). That 'he served the public wel in his first year as a coach proprietor 's evidenced by the fact that he did wel over £5,000 wonth of coach business

during the season and on one occasion A)540 worth of bookings were made over a period of two days.

Moreover, he promises to create a stir amongst the local owners by putting 11 new vehicles on the reed this sOsson, six of -them being Republie 20-seat-ems, four of them 30-seater Guys, and the other a 16-seater Guy. The bodies for these machines are being built. by Messrs. Buckingham, of Birmingham, and Messrs. Henning-on, of Brighton, and the Guy chassis are being supplied through Messrs.Eustace Watkins, of Bond Street, London, W. All the coaches up to the .20-seaters are shod with pneumatics, some of the Republics being fitted with Nobby Cords, 36 ins. by 6 inS. on the front wheels, and 38 ins. by 7.ins. on the rear wheels. As the Owner of a, number of texicabe, Mr. Miteleell is in a position to support his contention that small roaches can be operated almost.

cheaply as cabs. He is exceedingly pleased with his 20-seater Republics, which, he says, can be operated for just over Is. a.mile,inelusive, a figure which obviously can only be maintained by strict surveillance over maintainenee and runeing charges. The 30-seater Guys are fitted with solid tyres, but they give riding almost equal to the pneumatictyred coaches.

Hestings'proprietors generally speak of the equitable treatment of the local licensing committee, but one grievance which is aired is that more motor coaches have been lieensed than can be accommodated on the public stands. There are between 45 and 50 vehicles which have seen service, for which about 30 hackney carriage stands are allocated, 14 of which are located on the front. These stands are, of course, also used by taxicabs, but it is riot everyone who wants a ride in a coach or a cab, and bath chairs have to be reckoned with. The inadequicy of the.stands for coaches necessitates vehicles being in position between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. if they wish to get a load, and leave soon after 10 a.m., which they must do in order to be able to secure a position on the stand by 1 o'clock, in time for the afternoon trade. Most of the other "proprietors in Hastings are s-mall owners with one or two machines, with whom the Ford ton chassis is a popular model. Mr. A. A. Jones runs two 11-seater Fords, Mr. W. S. Bubb two 14-seaters of the same type, Mr. W. Stewart one 30-seater De Dion and a 16-seater Fiat, whilst owners of single machines include Mr. W. C. Chambers (Ford), Mr. J. L. Creagh (14seater Siddeley-Deasy), Premier Motors (30-seater Dennis), Mr. W. Buckle 414-seater Ford known as " The Whippet "), Mr. G. S. Todd (14-seater Ford styled "The Albert ").

Mr. Todd thinks of selling his machine 'and buying another vehicle, especially as he sustained a loss of .£62 on the 1921 running. The body on his vehicle was merle by Messrs. Cornelius, of Bexhill, 'who build and maintain many of the coach bodies in use by Hastings proprietors. Mr. Todd, who has spent a quarter of a centuryin Hastings, was a boas-dinghouse keeper price: to putting his coach in service in May last year, and from the connection he built up in this business he secures much of his patronage. He finds that it costs him Is. per mile all-in to run his vehicle, and thinks that a fair.

scale of fares is at the rate of 1-1d. per mile per passenger. .

The Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., and the East Kent. Road Car. Co., Ltd., also run coach services in and around Hastings, but this business is only conducted through local booking offices.

It is difficult accurately to forecast the prospects for the present season, for much will depend upon the stability of rates. Most proprietors put their vehicles into service at Easter, althOugh several coaches were on the road three or four weeks earlier. Some horse chanag banes were out last year, but there is little doubt that they have passed hence and will nor grace the promenade in 1922; they are certainly out of keeping with the times. All proprietors are agreed that. success will only come to those who combine civility with good ser vice, especially as railway competition is bound to be keen.

Hastings appears to be well served in the matter of taxicabs, and at all times of the day large numbers of them are to be seen on the ranks. Quite a number of users run cabs as wail as coaches. Messrs. Skinner's, for example, own 40 tamica.bs, whilst the Central Garage also have several on the road.

• Numerous buses also serve Hastings and the surrounding country, from sumptuous vehicles run on regular service by the Maidstone and District andEast Kent companies to small Ford buses, such as that run by Messrs. H. Clout between the Memorial and Halton Church. Messrs. Skinner's, whose activities are largely bound up with various phases of passenger vehicle operation, also rim two buses on the Old Town service.

A BIG EASTER PROGRAMME.

The Season Opens Auspiciously in Lancashire. Coach Fares to Suit all Purses.

MOTOR coaching in real earnest this 1922 season began on Good Friday, when the world and his wife travelled far and wide along the broad highway.

Arrangements on a most elaborate scale were made by the Lancashire United Tramways, Ltd., who, working from many centres, presented a programme of tours to meet the purses of every class. A number of COAChea3 were engaged on private party work, but single-seat bookings were boomed and advertised, not only in Manchester and. Liverpool, but in most of the densely populated industrial districts.

A special feature was made of weekend tours in North Wales, extending over four days. The Liverpool passer gers made Llanfairfechan their headquarters, and the tour which commenced on Good Friday morning was arranged so that passengers, whilst being enabled to enjoy to the full the pleasures of the road, had abundant opportunity for leisure. The charge, including first-class hotel accommodation, was £5. The Manchester passengers made Beddgelert their headquarters, and the journey was made in a 14-Ueat Fiat coach. Passengers fromBolton were picked up by arrangement. Here is an interesting summary of the doings of the Manchester-North Wales contingent over the Easter holidays : Good Friday.-Depart Manchester 10 a.m. and proceed via Chester, Wrexham, Llangollen (lunch). Depart Llangollen 3 p.m. Corwen, Cerrig-y-Druidion, Pent-re Foelas, Bet tws-y-Coed, Capel Curig, Vale, of Gwynant, .Bedclgelert. Easter Saturday.-Afternoon drive. Dapart Royal Goat lintel 2.30 p.m. and proceed via Cape] Curig, No.nt-Ffranc,on Pass, Bangor, Carnarvon, Bettws Carmoo, Beddgelert. Easter Sunday. Afternoon drive. Depart Royal Coat Hotel 2.30 p.m. and proceed via Tremadoc Criceicth, Aberereb, Pwllheli, Clymnog-fawr, Bethesda, Pen-y-groes, Dolbenmaen, Tremadoe, Bechigelert. Easter Monday.-Depart Royal Goat Hotel 11 a.m. and proceed via Vale of Gwyna.nt, Pass of Llanberis, Llanrug, Port, Dinorwic, Bangor, Llanclegai. Tal-y-liont, Aber, Llanfairfechan (lunch). Le9e 3 p.m. B26 • Conway, Colwyn, Abergele, Rhinidlan, Ilawarclen (tea at Glynne Arms), Chester, Warrington, arriving Manchester about 7.30 p.m.

Day trips from Manchester incluctea Blackpool, for which the following fares were quoted :-4s. 6d, day trip, 12s. day 'trip including lunch, 6s. single, 12s fici. long-date return. The long-date return ticketwas available until Easter Monday. On each day the coach left Manchester at 8.45 a.m. and returned 'from Blackpool lett 6 p.m. Llangollen wss another run, commencing at 9 a.m., and leaving Llandudno at 5 p.m., the fares being 16s. including lunch, and 13s. for the drive only. The arrangements, for Llandudno were :-Depart at 9 a.m., return 4 p.m.; 12s. single fare; 24s. longdate return; 16s. day trip.

The Liverpool programme was as fol. lows I-Easter Saturday.-Chester, Liam. gotten, 10.30 a.m., 6s. and 10s. return fare, including special lunch at Llangollen, 13s. 6d.; Blackpool 10.30 a.m., lls. ;

Warburton 2.30 p.m., 6s. 6d. Easter Sunday.-Chester and Llan gollen 10.30 a.m., 6s, and 10s. return fare, including special lunch at Llangollen 13s. 6d.; Blackpool 10.30 a.m., lls.; evening circular tour 6 p.m., 3s. Easter Monday.Chester and Llangollen 10.30 a.m., 6s. and 10s. return fare, including special lunch at Llangollen las. 6d. ; Blackpool 10.60 a.m., lie.; Southport 2.30 p.m., 5s.; evening circular tour 6 p.m. 3s.

In addition to day trips to BatIpool, Southport, and Llangollen from Daub hill, Bolton and Faruworth, there were afternoon and evening drives at 2 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. For the daily runs passengers had the option of booking (1) return day trip ; (2) day trip, including lunch; (3) single; (4) long-date return. Similar arrangements were made for tours from Tyldesley, AthertoE, and Leigh, 3s. being charged for evening runs.

Motor Coaching and the Football Final.

In connection -with the Football Cup Final in London on April 29th, the Polytechnic Touring Association, Ltd., are advertising in the North of Eng-.

land cities and towns, including Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Dar. lington, West Hartlepool, York, Stockton, Hull, Middlesbrough, South Shields, etc., attractive motor coach

drives in tho Metropolis. The tours will be personally conducted, and n11 parties are to be met at King's Cross railway terminus. After an early morning drive, visiting the markets, a. hot meat breakfast will be -served, to be followed by a drive around the chief sights of. London. After dinner patrons have the choice of a drive to the Chelsea Football Ground. or to Hampton Court. Tea is also provided, the total charge being 21s. A deposit of 10s. per head is required.

AN ALL-THE-YEAR-ROUND SALOON COACH.

A New Type of Body which Can be Opened or Closed at Will.

THE illustrations which we reproduce on this page are of a. new type of motorbus body introduced by the South Wales Commercial Motors, Ltd., Cardiff. The new features incorporated in the design, of this body are of importance to users of passenger vehicles running on all-the-year-round service. Only one vehicle of the type has, as yet, been put upon the road by the company, and 1..has attracted general comment and praise from passengers using it on the Cardiff to Penarth daily services.

The design is to be incorporated in all the company's vehicles and many are now under the reconstruction process.

The whole of the roof of the bus body, which is a 30-seater single-decker, mounted on a Commer Car chassis, can be opened or closed at will in a few seconds, thus providing a saloon or semiopen type of bus. When open it adds considerably to the comfort of bus passengers travelling in sultry weather, and can instantly, on the coming of rain or cold weather, be reconverted into the sheltered saloon.

Although the windows at the sides are. fixtures, provision has been made whereby the top halves can be lowered without ensuing rattle. The height of the windoWs has been so arranged that passengers in the natural sitting position look over rather than through them, -and a clear scenic view is obtainable when travelling. This window arrangement supplements the open riding system tendered, at option, to passengers when the roof is removed.

The bus, in .general appearance, is s]milar to others in. the service of the company, except that the sliding roof is made of waterproof twill, secured to a number of hoopsticks not much unlike the ordinary:char-a-banes Cape-cart hood.The _hoopsticks are, of course, very shallow. and haye special box-type

sockets which slide upon a tubular steel rail. • The rearitost hoopstiek is fitted with much longer sockets, the object of Which is to ensure their bet% kept exactly square, so controlling the other hoopsticks during the operation of opening or closing. The change from one type to the other is made in as little time as it takes the conductor to walk from end to 'end of the bus. The design of cover and the method of securing it are the invention of Mr, A. Gray, one of the joint managing directors of the company.

A Coaching Combine.

EVERAL motor coach combinations

were mooted last season but in most cases the schemes ended in smoke, it is said that the latest motor coach COMbination of interest, will be known as the Holiday Coach Co., who will have their headquarters at 7, Savoy Street, Strand, London, W.C. This new company will pool the coaches owned by Messrs. Mitchell's, of Hastings and Eastbourne, Messrs. White's of Lewisham, Messrs. Bangham of Margate, Messrs. Hawkins of Camberwell, the Brighton Motor Coach Owners' Association, and several smaller owners.

In the course of our article dealing with the coach services at Hastings, which is published in this issue, we describe the individual activities of Mr. A. V. E. Mitchell, who has earned a name for himself locally by running coach tours at fares-below those generally prevailing.

The combination will have available immediately about 60 coaches, and others will be put into service as the season Frogresses.. The programme of the Holiday Coach Co. will include seven-day.s.-a week services to Kent and Sussex seaside places, and daily tours in and around the beauty spots in both counties. A feature of the new services will be fortnightly touring tickets which will enable the holder to travel from London and spend the whole of his holiday it road touring.

Coaching to the Derby.

Although the chars-a-banes owners who contemplate running to the Derby racecourse on Derby Day will have to pay more for placing their vehicles within site of the course, the feature of this year's blue riband of the turf promises to be the number of the racing fraternity which will make use of motor coaches for reaching their destination. Many proprietors are already booking parties. Last year the charge for parking a motor coach within view of the course on Derby Day was L5, but this year it will be 27 for Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Upper Gates and Nos. 1 and 2 Lower Gates, and the Hill. These are the only carriage grounds to which chars-à-banes will be admitted.

The reasons given for these increases in the rates charged include the .amount of ground such vehicles occupy and the damage which, it is said, they do to roads and the turf on Epsom Downs.

Licences for Private Chars-a

bancs.

Blackpool Watch Committee . has authorized the chief, constable to require that chars-a-bancs Plying for hire from private premises shall be licensed by the committee.

The local Chars-a-banes Owners' Association has asked that coaches shall be allowed to stand in public thoroughfares from which they night ply for hire, but the committee has adhered to its decision to require such vehicles to be run from private premises.