Return Trips Should Produce 50 Per Cent. Of Operating Cost

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 October 1947, Page 4

Return Trips Should Produce 50 Per Cent. Of Operating Cost

“In considering the necessary timetable adjustments to provide meal reliefs, it is timely to review also other portions of the timetables in the light, of the small number of passengers offering at certain parts of the day,” stated a report tabled by the tramway manager (Mr. L. A. Row) at a monthly meeting of the Tramway Committee and subsequently adopted at a special meeting of the council.

“It has been common knowledge for many years that many runs are poorly patronised, and the sight of empty or almost empty cars is all 100 frequent. Each individual timetabled run cannot be expected to operate to financial advantage. A reasonably con ven ent service must be offered to the public if patronage is to be maintained. Some runs will pay handsomely, while others will operate at a loss. It is the average return which is important. Nevertheless, some limits must be placed on the non-pay-ing runs. Sufficient attention has already been drawn to the fact that our average returns show a substantial

“In the special report on the passenger transport system of November, 1945, it was recommended that when a new type of service is introduced the timetables should be planned so that each individual return trip produced at least 50 per cent, of the cost of operating that trip. This is far from

the case with our present tramway service. Some trips do not produce 10 p.c. of the operating cost.”