Confusion over future of bus funding in Wales
Welsh Government has proposed deep cuts in bus operator payments for participating in concessionary travel scheme, but misses its own deadline Welsh transport minister Edwina Hart was pictured last week (above) in Aberdare cutting the tape on a fleet of 17 brand new buses – a £1.7m investment by Stagecoach. However, Stagecoach and other bus...
Stagecoach Manchester is ‘Bus Operator of the Year’
Stagecoach Manchester was crowned ‘UK Bus Operator of the Year’ today at the 2013 UK Bus Awards, which were presented at a ceremony at London’s Hilton Park Lane hotel. It’s the first time that a Stagecoach subsidiary has won the coveted title since the back-to-back victories of Stagecoach West Scotland in 2005 and 2006. Stagecoach...
TOCs must invest to win new East Coast franchise
Prospectus for the next East Coast franchise highlights new emphasis on prioritising rail’s long term economic value over short term financial gain The winner of the new East Coast franchise will need to offer higher levels of investment than in the past, step up competition with other TOCs, provide services to new destinations and deliver...
Souter justifies threat to abandon Tyne & Wear
Stagecoach chairman says ‘hard’ line needed to counter QC plans Sir Brian Souter has repeated his threat to close Stagecoach’s bus business in Tyne & Wear if Nexus introduces a Quality Contract in the region – claiming that it is essential that the group takes a “robust” line on the issue. Responding to a question...
Fixing the link between towns and rail stations
Abellio imports Dutch methodology in bid to improve station access Dutch group Abellio has highlighted the issue of walking routes to railway stations, and has this week launched a report on how they can be benchmarked and improved. The report, Fixing the Link, has been produced in partnership with sustainable transport lobby group Campaign for...
Council firm warns of ‘catastrophic’ strike
Planned 72 hour strike could severely wound council firm’s finances Council-owned bus operator Network Warrington has warned that a further round of industrial action by staff will be “catastrophic” to the business and “will have maximum impact on the company’s future”. It follows a difficult few months at the operator which has seen the departure...
DfT points to potential of ‘virtual ticket offices’
The Department for Transport has told train operators that forthcoming franchise bids should include proposals to introduce new ticket retailing technology as a precursor to cutting ticket office opening hours. In particular, the DfT has highlighted developments in video-linked ticket vending machine technology as a potential means to improve service quality and reduce costs. Initially,...
DfT trades premiums for a focus on quality
Department for Transport has revealed the methodology it will use to ensure greater emphasis is placed on quality when franchises are awarded A new formula for awarding rail franchises has been published by the Department for Transport which will place significantly greater emphasis on stimulating service quality, driving management competence and building stronger long term...
Labour sets out plans to rein in private sector
National Policy Commission proposes greater public control over bus and rail services as shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle appeals to operators The Labour Party has set out proposals for the most wide and far-reaching reform of public transport in Great Britain since the privatisation of the bus and rail industries in the 1980s and 1990s....
Plan to beef up RDG with ATOC ‘takeover’
Rail Delivery Group needs resources - and ATOC has them Initial discussions have taken place between the Rail Delivery Group and the Association of Train Operating Companies which could lead to some ATOC departments being subsumed into the RDG. The rationale for the move would be to provide the RDG with the capability to carry out...
Bus regulation battles open up on three fronts
Bus operators are now countering calls for buses to be regulated in England, Scotland and Wales, with the party conferences expected to fuel the debate The debate over the regulation of local bus services has reached its most intense level in years, with the industry now countering calls for bus franchising in England, Scotland and...
‘HS2 could deliver £15bn annual benefits’
Research by KMPG provides evidence of economic payback The Department for Transport and HS2 Ltd have responded to growing criticism that the case for the planned high speed network is weak and unproven by publishing new research into its regional economic impacts. The research for HS2 Ltd by KPMG was cited in a speech by...
