RAILWAYS' AND WEEK-END FARES
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—" Jab " refers to railway managers as " men of great experience," but he does not give them.credit for• profiting by the result of that experience. Railways cater for the multi- tude, and, in granting cheap fares, have in view an increase-of traffic. Their experience shows that the privileged, few. who can make their week-end last from Friday to Tuesday are little affected by cheap fares, particularly for short distances, and will travel in any case. The man of moderate• means, however, may be debarred from spending a week-end away unless cheap fares can be. obtained. If he wishes to go a long distance he endeavours to leave on Friday, and the minimum fare imposed is no hardship.
A very much larger number travel on- Saturday for shorter distances, and the privilege of reduced fares is keenly appre- ciated by them as the increased bookings show. By the recent. extension of week•end bookings from 12 noon on Friday for long-distances an advance has been made even on pre-War practice. The issue of week-end tickets on Fridays before the War was restricted to comparatively few places, whereas they •
are -now issued anywhere subject only to the minimum fare limit. Railways are business concerns. Cheap fares must bring additional traffic, or they result in a loss, and it is very doubtful whether the number of men with country cottages and a week-end from Friday to Monday or Tuesday would be increased to any extent by the granting of week-end tickets without a limit on -Fridays.—I am, Sir, &c., RAILWAYS.
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