DfT submits major bus review

13 December 2006

Authorities could get 'London-style' control

Long-called-for powers giving local authorities and transport bodies more control over bus timetables, fares and routes have been put forward.
The Department for Transport proposals, revealed this week, have been hailed as ‘the most fundamental change in the operation of buses for 20 years’.
Transport secretary, Douglas Alexander, said the scheme would also be linked to road pricing pilots.
The proposals state: ‘In areas that are developing proposals for such schemes, the ability to guarantee improvements in local public transport is expected to be a crucial element of the policy package, so more people can see a realistic, reliable and cost-effective alternative to the private car.’
The key proposals in the document, Putting passengers first, cover enhancements to the existing arrangements for partnership schemes between local authorities and bus operators. This will allow for statutory schemes to cover minimum frequencies, timings and ‘where appropriate’, maximum fares. It also creates the opportunity for voluntary agreements, opening up the possibility of multi-lateral arrangements between a local authority and more than one operator.
The proposals aim to make quality contract schemes a realistic option, while ensuring they can only be brought forward ‘where the benefits are sufficient to justify them.’ They will also create a new performance regime, forcing operators to keep the local traffic commissioner updated on punctuality as well as penalising companies and local authorities whose service underperforms.
The proposals should give more opportunity to the community transport sector to encourage bus use in rural areas where services cannot be provided on a fully commercial basis.
The proposals have been widely welcomed by transport groups looking to reverse the decline in bus patronage associated with Margaret Thatcher’s decision to deregulate the service in 1986. Roy Wicks, director general of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and chair of the Passenger Transport Executive group, said: ‘We need to put an end to the spiral of decline in bus use in our areas and, as the Government policy paper says, replicate some of the success of bus services in London.’
John Whitelegg, deputy chair of the Local Government Association’s transport and regeneration board, said: ‘These proposals are a victory for common sense. The only way we can get more passengers on the buses is to give local people more say over services where they live.’
Stephen Joseph, director of Transport 2000, said: ‘We will also want to see more action to put the passenger at the centre of bus policy.’
Nicola Shaw, managing director of First’s UK Bus division, Britain’s largest bus operator, added: ‘We believe the most effective way to deliver better services to passengers is through voluntary partnership agreements, and we therefore welcome the DfT's proposed enhancements to partnership schemes.’ The measures will be open to consultation before forming part of a road transport Bill next year.
Download Putting passengers first here.

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