The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-10-24 00:00:00

RAILWAY FARES.

A correspondent writing on the subject of railway
fares Bays :—" rue Midland Company are undoubtedly
about to make grave mistakes. Firstly, they will err
in abolishing the second or middle class, for that is
used by hundreds of thousands who are well able and
quite willing to pay something extra far the better ac-
commodation they enjoy in that class, and, naming
only one other of several reasons, that they may not
be compelled to associate with workmen, who, from
necessity, have to travel in their dirty working-day
clothes in third-class carriages ; and, further,
because these second-class passengers will certainly
not, by a very large majority, pay more to
enjoy the superior accommodation of the first
class, but will prefer to pay less, and travel in
what may be called the third. Secondly, they
are wrong, while reducing the first-class fare, in
leaving the third-class as it is at present—in not
making the third half the first, which is their
proper relation to each other. Thirdly, in not
abolishing season or periodical ticket fares; in not
placing all the passengers of the same class, travel-
ling between the same stations, by the same train, on
exactly the same footing ; the season ticket holder being
now often charged hardly more than half the fare paid
by the holder of an ordinary single ticket, and the single
ticket costing half as much more as the half of an ordi-
nary return ticket, or, as in a case which is familiar
to me, lid., is, and 9d. respectively. The London and
North-Western, Great Northern, and other companies,
who will be seriously affected by the Midland Com-
pany's policy, may yet save themselves from loss, and
in the end gain considerably, by continuing the three
classes, charging the same ordinary first class fare
as the Midland will, a lower third-class fare, and the
mean of the two for second-class fare ; in figures : Per
mile—let class, W. ; 2nd class, lid. ; 3rd class, id. ;
or, abolishing season ticket fares, charge all alike be-
tween the same stations, by the same class and by the
same train, for each journey, according to the scale,
viz. : Per mile—let class, id. ; 2nd class, id. ; 3rd
class, ids, and so on for every two miles additional,
giving—For 12 miles—lst class, Is. ; 2nd class, 9d. ;
3rd class, lid." This correspondent suggests that
ordinary tickets should be Willed for several journeys,
so as to afford the convenience of the present season
tickets.

Another correspondent of the Daily Telegraph writes .
Sir,—ln theleacling article in to-day's Daily Telegraph
on the abolition of second-class carriages by the Mid-
land Railway Company, you mention as a probable
hitch that some travellers might wish for more rechereU
accommodation than the first class carriages at three-
halfpence, a mile. A large experience of travel on
American 'railroads has convinced me that this difficulty
might be fully met by running what are called
"drawing-room cars "---e.e., cars luxuriously fitted
with sofas or arm chairs (the latter fixed to the floor,
but turning on a pivot), mirrors, &c., for which a small
extra charge is made, varying from one to two dollars.
This would obviate any necessity for the locking up
and reservation of compartments or coupes in any
train, and would ensure at least as much exclusiveness
as any first-class passengers now enjoy, with great
additional comfort.