UK’s bus fleets ‘should emulate London model’
A new thinktank report has called for the UK’s bus services to be reformed.
The UK’s bus fleets should be regulated by local transport bodies based on Transport for London.
This is according to a new report from thinktank IPPR, which claims deregulation of bus services outside of the capital has failed.
It said a lack of competition is a serious problem, with more than a third (37 per cent) of services from outside London not having an ‘effective head-to-head’ rival. Meanwhile, bus fares in England have increased 35 per cent above inflation since 2005, with the figure standing at 34 per cent in Wales and 20 per cent in Scotland.
IPPR also revealed bus usage has fallen throughout the country as a whole, although it has increased in London. Outside of the capital bus use has dropped 32.5 per cent since 1986, but has risen 99 per cent in London.
To emulate the capital’s success, the thinktank has called for the creation of new local bodies that will follow Transport for London’s example by regulating bus services and contracting. It claimed this would improve standards while bringing down fares.
Will Straw, IPPR associate director, stated: “London has the best buses in Britain and that’s no accident. Transport for London has been a great success while the deregulation of buses outside London has largely failed.
“Examples of successful bus markets outside London are all too rare so local transport bodies should be given greater powers to hold uncompetitive providers to account.”
Mr Straw claimed the new local bodies the thinktank is calling for should have a wider role that includes encouraging better integration of bus services with other public transport models such as rail. “This will help increase the number of passengers using public transport,” he stated.
According to IPPR, more than five billion bus journeys are undertaken in the UK each year, with poorer members of society using the services most often.
One in eight people rely on the bus to get to work, while more than three times as many journeys are made by bus as by rail. He said it is “vital” that drivers are taught advanced safety behaviours, while vehicles should be regularly checked and fleet safety policies need to be rewritten to take extreme weather in account.
