New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-11
"SECOND CLASS" IN ENGLAND.
THE GREAT INCREASE OF TRAVEL BY IT
ON THE RAILROADS.

ON THE RAILROADS.
From The London Globe.
"The Church Family Newspaper" publishes a
number Of interviews with railway managers re-
gardng the great Increase in second-class frame
that has taken place Of late Mr.. Owens, general
manager of the London and Southwestern com
pany said that in 1895 they set about reorgan-
izing the second class, and in 1870 mad COM
pleted arrangements by reducing the second
class fare from three halfpence to five farthings
a mile and charging second-cass return as
single fare and three-fourths. At the same time
they reduced the first class TO twopence mile.
The effect has been to resuscitate the secoho
class and to arrest its decline. Here are the
figures" said Mr.. owens, they speak FOR them
selves. In August, 1S96-the first half-year after
we had made the change-hrSt class showed an
increase of 100611 in number. and in money OF
1914 while second class increased lI2G2 in
number and over $1,000 in money. The new con-
ditcns had only been in operation two months
then. Then. in the next halfyear-feDruary.
1S97-we found that the first class increased IN
numbers by 10000. but that the receipts lowing
to the considerable reduction in fares were less
by f26S7 But in the second class there was an
extraordinary increase both IN numbers ana re-
cepts. The number Of second-class passengers
had increased by 1880. and the receipts
showed an excess over the previous year OF
tlSSOi And bear in mind that in previous
years had been confronted with a shrlnkage
from second class income Of no less than tloooo
n year In the following half-year there was
further increase Of 1Gs.jOS in numbers and
nearly t2I Ow in fares. And last August we
found that while we carried 10000 less first-class
passengers than in the previous half-year. and
that the net receipts from this source were
t1332O less the second class showed an IN
crease of t10.665 and of 112%3,o in numbers
You will admit, then, that our policy OF reducing
the second-clas fare has been justified by re-
suits"
Somewhat to the same effect the evidence
vouchsafed to me by the manager Of the GreA
Western Railway. I'VE cater to very similar
class Of the population as the South Western.
he remarked. and therefore our experience has
been very similar to theirs. We, too. nave re-
duced our first and second class fares. and the
result has been that we have recovered great
deal of the higher-class travelling that we found
ourselves losing some years ago, when the fares
were less popular" From an official OF the
London and North Western Railway it was
learned that similar experimental changes had
been mode in the reduction Of second class fares.
and with similar results. They had carried
60 49, more passengers by this class and
gained tJ6. So more money by so doing. In FACT
the second class traffic was the only department
that showed a truly gratifying increase both IN
numbers and in money. on the other hand.
Edward Wells. the assistant manager Of the
Midland Railway. said they had abolished sec
ond class ever since the beginning OF 1879 and
they had seen no reason to regret the step they
had then taken. The manager Of the Metropoli-
tan Railway stated that his company had not
found it necessary to abolish second class. Our
passengers he said ARE divided into these pro-
portions: Third class. 1872 per cent; second
We could not abolish second class without caus-
ing very conside rable inconvenience to those who
travel by this intermediate system. The major
ity Of our seasOn-ticket holders take second
class seasons, the price Of which is based on
third class rates; to abolish this department
would entail great Inconvenience on Them.
From Mr.. GOoday. the general manager OF the
London. Brighton and South Coast Railway II
was gathered that they. too, in consequence OK
their large season-ticket traffic find it desira-
tIa to maintain the second class. AS with all
railway systems in which the distances travelled
are comparatively short, the second class is an
absolute necessity. But in order to induce peo-
pe to patronize the higher classes they lately
reduced the fares in the first and second class
departments and so far they have reason TO be
leve that the experiment they have tried VIII
have the desired effect. An official of the Board
OF Trade supplemented this information with
some figures hearing upon the general business
Of all the railways showing that there has been
an immense revival in second-class travelling or
late. Last year there were u, l626JO second
class travellers an increase Of 2.3S9.OUo in the
twelve months: while the increase in receipts
exclusive Of season-tcket hoders) was at the
rate u - per cent, as against ID per cent for
first and 20 per cent for third. But up to the
end II 1895 the receipts from second class were
continuously falling.