Diesel cuts affect bus firms

Press, 21 August 1979, Page 13

Diesel cuts affect bus firms

* Christchurch coach ser,vices say they cannot cope •with the increased demand ion popular earless days the present diesel £irestrictions. g The Railways Road Services are already having ‘difficulty meeting the extra in Dunedin. Al--though there have been no yet in Ch.-ist- ► church, coach services say . the diesel cut-backs to 95 -per cent of last year’s consumption are too restrictive. ■ Mount Cook Landlines Jias reported an increase of ♦more than 30 por cent in ’patronage for the school ‘holidays compared with the '■ same period last year. The 'petrol crisis and good snow at southern resorts have caused the increased . demand, the company says. The Railways Road Services and Midland Coach--fines also report heavy \demands on regular and school holiday services, although they cannot yet produce the figures. - Ironically, the Railways ■Road Services have had to Recall old petrol-driven ■vehicles to service to meet

the demand, according to the district manager (Mr R. S. McKenzie). “We hope die diesei restrictions will be rectified, because there is no way we will meet the 95 per cent cut with our present demand,” Mr McKenzie said. Friday and Sunday evenings were very busy, particularly between Christchurch and Dunedin. Midlands had had to put on extra vehicles on three days of the week since earless days were introduced, said the general manager (Mr D. W. Mcßeth). The company was enjoying good patronage between Christchurch and Dunedin, its local Christchurch services, and its North Island runs, Mr Mcßeth said. “The increased patronage means we are putting on extra services, but we could run out of fuel,” he said. The diesel restrictions are expected to be discussed at the Bus and Coach Association’s annual conference, which will start at Havelock North on August 21.