Labour MP launches campaign to ‘cut bus fares’

The Labour member of parliament for Bristol East, Kerry McCarthy, has launched a campaign for an immediate reduction in bus fares charged by First Bristol – the bus company raised fares by 4.1 per cent in January 2008 and a further 6 per cent in August, blaming both increases on ‘soaring crude oil prices driving up the cost of diesel’. Many industry observers are expecting further fare increases from FirstGroup local bus subsidiaries, due to the company’s long-term fuel supply contracts! FirstGroup UK Bus companies paid an average of US$ 67 per barrel for the year ended 31 March 2008 - for the current year ending, the subsidiaries are paying an average of US$ 75 per barrel. FirstGroup has already contracted to buy ninety per cent of the group’s UK fuel requirement for the year ended 31 March 2010 at an average price of US$ 111 per barrel (a forty-eight per cent increase on the current year!). A barrel of oil has been trading in the last seven days in the range of US$ 61 to US$ 66. Most major bus operators currently state that fuel accounts for approximately ten per cent of operating costs.

DfT ‘solution’ to bus routes over fifty kilometres

The Department for Transport has agreed that buses without tachographs can operate through journeys of more than fifty kilometres provided that the journey is split into more than one distinct route – the journeys cannot be publicised as through buses and the constituent routes must commence from and terminate at recognised terminal locations.

Devon to consult on plans to reduce Exeter traffic congestion

Devon County Council is shortly to commence public consultation on a thirty-five million pound package of schemes designed to reduce traffic congestion in Exeter – the schemes include a new park and ride site at Alphington and several additional bus priority lanes.

DfT to consult on ticketing

The Department for Transport is planning to issue a consultation next year on a ticketing strategy for public transport – the strategy is been designed to promote a vision for an integrated multi-modal ticketing system, with the objective of pulling together all current electronic ticketing initiatives (e.g. Concessionary Fares Card, Centro smartcard, Oyster etc. etc.)

Stagecoach to trial contactless card technology

Stagecoach is to trial on-bus credit and debit card payment over the next twelve months – the trial will see readers inserted on buses to enable customers to make fast, convenient and safe payments by simply tapping their card on a dedicated reader. The system, using MasterCard PayPass or Maestro PayPass cards, permits cardholders to make payments to the bus operator for fares less than ten pounds and will be a direct alternative to cash.

Police campaign to eliminate drug dealing on college and school buses

Drug dealers are targeting college and school students travelling on buses in Cornwall and Devon, according to local police. Devon and Cornwall police have reported that criminals are selling drugs to students on their journeys to and from colleges and schools. ‘Plain clothes’ police officers are now travelling on those college and school buses, where drug dealing has been reported.

And finally,

New off-site construction methods enabled Network Rail to replace the Pill railway bridge in just eight hours – most of the bridge construction work was completed off-site in advance to minimise the amount of time that the railway line was required to close.