Review of fare cuts

Press, 9 February 1983, Page 6

Review of fare cuts

Lack of patronage for its half-fare scheme is worrying the Christchurch Transport Board. The board will make a renewed' effort to promote the scheme before the trial period ends on March 31. “If there is insufficient support the scheme will have to be abandoned,” said the general manager of the board, Mr M. G. Taylor. The scheme started on August 16 and halved the normal adult Tare between 9

a.m. and 4 p.m. and after 6 p.m. on weekdays and at all times at week-ends and on public holidays. The public response has been lower than expected. Mr Taylor said that the scheme had increased patronage during off-peak hours about 10 per cent, which meant a 5 per cent increase“across the board. The scheme was costing the board $12,000 a week in loss of revenue, but this had been offset by the wage

freeze, which had kept the board’s expenditure down. “Although the scheme is losing money, the losses are more than offset by the savings we are making on wages,” Mr Taylor said. “The success of the scheme depends on your definition of the function of the Transport Board. “The scheme could be considered a success because it has increased patronage, or a failure because it is losing so much money,” he said.