CrossCountry increases fares by eleven per cent

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) has announced fare increases to apply from Friday 2 January 2009 – all four train operating companies in the region (Arriva Trains Wales, CrossCountry, First Great Western and South West Trains) will increase regulated* fares by six per cent (the July 2008 inflation rate of five per cent plus one per cent). Unregulated* rail fares will increase by the following percentages:-

• Arriva Trains Wales: 6 per cent
• CrossCountry: 11 per cent
• First Great Western: 6.6 per cent
• South West Trains: 7.2 per cent

(*: Regulated fares include short-distance standard returns, long distance off-peak returns (the former ‘Saver’ ticket) and season tickets, while unregulated fares include all long-distance standard returns and all advance purchase tickets)

Western Greyhound is the ‘Independent Operator of the Year’

Western Greyhound has won the ‘Independent Operator of the Year’ at the recent UK Bus Awards – earlier this month, the bus company won the Route One Medium Operator of the Year.

Two other entries from the South West were short-listed for the UK Bus Awards 2008:-

• The Bus In The Countryside Award: First Devon and Cornwall
• Young Manager of the Year: Tony Simmons (Stagecoach Devon)

Stagecoach is the ‘most ethical’ public transport group

Stagecoach has been named as the ‘most ethical’ of the five major public transport groups in Great Britain, in the annual survey by Co-operative Asset Management and the Observer newspaper. The survey assesses the performance of three hundred and fifty public companies against a range of social, environmental and ethical criteria. Stagecoach was placed thirty-fourth in the survey with a rating of 73.56 – the ratings of the other major groups was as follows:-

• Arriva: 122nd with a rating of 61.31
• FirstGroup: 38th with a rating of 73.18
• Go-Ahead Group: 35th with a rating of 73.44
• National Express: 43rd with a rating of 72.50

Bristol Ulink customer numbers more than double

Ulink, the dedicated bus network for the University of the West of England (UWE), has seen major growth in customer usage in the first year of operation. The network, which is operated by Wessex Connect, has seen daily customer numbers increase from 2.5k to 6k in the last twelve months. The Ulink service was established by UWE to link the university’s campuses with key student locations in Bristol. Current demand means that from today (Monday 24 November) Ulink is been expanded to five routes, compared with the original three services – the Ulink network can be used by members of the general public, in addition to students and staff.

Rail forecasting tools to be reviewed

The Department for Transport has appointed consultants to review the influences on demand for travel by rail and, in particular, to identify why recent growth has been much higher than predicted by current forecasting methodologies. Consultants Arup and Oxera will undertake this work on rail passenger demand elasticities for the Department for Transport, Transport Scotland and the cross-industry Passenger Demand Forecasting Council.

ATOC planning interactive map

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) is planning to launch an interactive map on the National Rail Enquiries Service (NRES) website which will illustrate how trains are moving in real time, whether the service is on time and whether there are any problems on the route – the service is expected to be available next year.

People

The Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers (ATCO) has elected Mark Pedlar, the Group Manager of the Passenger Transport Unit of Somerset County Council, as chairman for the twelve months to November 2009. Alex Perry, the former Managing Director of First Bristol buses, has been appointed as operations director for the National Express Group bus and coach networks.

And finally,

The death has been announced of Matthew Bradley, the marketing manager for the Go-Ahead Group. Matthew started his public transport career working with Harry Blundred at Transit Holdings in Devon – he subsequently worked for Arriva and Stagecoach, before joining the Go-Ahead Group in 2003, where he developed the high frequency, quality ‘More’ bus network in Bournemouth and Poole. The bus industry has lost ‘a visionary leader’ and customers have lost a ‘passionate champion’, dedicated to achieving modal shift by raising standards.