Government provides forty-two million pounds for Greater Bristol bus network

The Department for Transport has announced that it is to provide forty-two million pounds of funding for the Greater Bristol bus network.

The Greater Bristol bus network (GBBN) major scheme comprises a significant investment in ten corridors across the Greater Bristol area to deliver substantial improvements in the quality of bus services. These ten corridors serve a much wider network of bus services with 70 different routes benefiting from the GBBN improvements. Due to the cross boundary nature of this project, the scheme is being promoted by the four councils of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol City, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, working with bus operator, First. The scheme can be defined as a 'Bus Showcase' network comprising a range of measures that will improve the speed, reliability, comfort and image of conventional bus travel across the Greater Bristol area. It will complement two Bus Showcase routes that have already been implemented: the north-south 76 and 77 services along the A38 Showcase Corridor between Henbury and Hartcliffe which was completed in December 2003; and the east-west A420 corridor which was completed in December 2007.

In summary, the scheme comprises:

• Bus priority measures along each of the ten identified corridors, such that the impact of traffic congestion on bus travel times and reliability can be reduced
• The provision of new fully accessible low floor buses on the core routes serving the GBBN corridors;
• The provision of improved service frequencies and new bus routes, where demand potential is at its greatest;
• The provision of significantly improved passenger facilities at bus stops, including new shelters, raised kerbs and, at the most heavily used stops, real time passenger information; and
• The provision of improved passenger information in conjunction with the extension of the existing Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) system.

Bus operators call for changes to concessionary fares reimbursement

A new report produced by consultants, Oxera, for the Confederation of Passenger Transport (the ‘trade body’ for bus operators) has concluded that the Government is currently ‘short-changing’ bus operators for carrying concessionary pass holders free of charge – the report finds that the assumptions made by the Department for Transport relating to the demand for bus travel are ‘fairly arbitrary’ and ‘cannot be justified by empirical evidence’.

South West train operators want changes to existing rail ticket selling arrangements

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) has proposed changes to the current ‘Ticketing and Settlement Agreement’ – ATOC claims that the present agreement makes the widespread introduction of discounted fares sold through the internet only difficult to implement and prevents price reductions for ‘contra-peak’ commuters. ATOC is also proposing changes to the existing arrangements for altering the opening hours of ticket offices. Any changes to the ‘Ticketing and Settlement Agreement’ would need ratification by the Department for Transport.

First Great Western faces another RMT strike ballot

The RMT has called the union’s fourth ballot this year for industrial action by employees of First Great Western – this time over plans to remove buffet car facilities from a number of high speed trains. The ballot of seven hundred catering staff, train managers and conductors was announced despite the launch of a review by First Great Western into the decision of the previous management to remove the buffet car in a maximum of twenty-seven high speed trains and introduce a trolley service providing at-seat catering in both first and standard classes.

The end of the independent bus operator?

Following the recent sales of Cooks Coaches to Stagecoach and Truronian to First, there are now only four large independent bus operators remaining in the South West:-

1. Plymouth Citybus – one hundred and ninety buses and coaches. Company owned by Plymouth City Council.
2. Rotala – two hundred and seventy buses and coaches. Company, which operates as Wessex Connect in the South West, is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).
3. Thamesdown Transport – one hundred and twenty buses. Company owned by Swindon Borough Council.
4. Western Greyhound – ninety buses. Company is privately owned.

People

Go South Coast has appointed Sarah Lewsey to the new role of marketing manager for Wilts and Dorset, Damory Coaches and Tourist Coaches.

And finally,

First Great Western has decided to end the practice of putting two people who book separately into the same cabin on sleeping car trains between Cornwall and London, with one person on the top bunk and the other on the bottom bunk.