Manchester Bus Franchising

[Olympian2100]

RE: Manchester Bus Franchising

(24/06/2019 13:55)B10B6514 Wrote:  Without getting too political, franchising/reregulation will go a long way to this government's pledge of 0% carbon emissions by 2050. They need to put major investment into public transport to make it attractive again and rid it of its' 3rd class stigma.
Investment has to go on more development of affordable and sustainable alternative fuels which in some cases, such as hydrogen, is in its' infancy.

Andy Burnham has set the stall out for the other metro mayors to follow. It's a beginning. I would hope the main metropolises throughout the British Isles follow suit and Whitehall to sponser him through reinstating rebates, adequate pass payments and substantial Green Bus funding. It can be done.

Steve Rotherham will not use Franchising. On Merseyside Partnership has been successful with ridership up 16% in the last four years and passenger satisfaction at around 92%.Could be the lower fares and all-operator season/day tickets Merseytravel offer.

[EDB325]

RE: Manchester Bus Franchising

(24/06/2019 21:58)Olympian2100 Wrote:  Steve Rotherham will not use Franchising. On Merseyside Partnership has been successful with ridership up 16% in the last four years and passenger satisfaction at around 92%.Could be the lower fares and all-operator season/day tickets Merseytravel offer.

Great for the public, less so for operators (think Avon Buses, who blamed low fares for their demise).

Meanwhile, back in Manchester, Stagecoach's statement nails it totally as regards the funding of the model. For example, where is the money coming from to pay for 16-18 year olds to travel free ?

Pie....sky....end of.

[B10B6514]

RE: Manchester Bus Franchising
Not surprising they are opposing as GM South Ltd made Stagecoach £17.6 million profit for Stagecoach last year.

[Mayneway]

RE: Manchester Bus Franchising

(25/06/2019 09:37)B10B6514 Wrote:  Not surprising they are opposing as GM South Ltd made Stagecoach £17.6 million profit for Stagecoach last year.

I’m 50/50 for franchising but what I do strongly believe is that here in Manchester Stagecoach hold far too much power and that’s got to change.

[gilesbus1]

RE: Manchester Bus Franchising
Not to add salt to sore wombs but apparently there are also now calls for Glasgow City Council to investigate buying FirstGlasgow and once again Aberdeen City Council is looking at buying out FirstAberdeen, is it possible that deregulation is about to end in large Cities and Metropolitan area's with a return to the pre deregulation situation especially if the Conservatives lose political power?

In other words the model of deregulation is now broken! and a great opportunity exists with the collapse of First Group and other issues at Arriva to mop up and nationalise at least some of it, if only the legislation was there.

The Green issues also make it possible to sell it positively as greening Britain's Transport infrastructure and improving the environment.

[Barney]

RE: Manchester Bus Franchising
[quote='gilesbus1' pid='129933' dateline='1561473384']
Not to add salt to sore wombs but apparently there are also now calls for Glasgow City Council to investigate buying FirstGlasgow and once again Aberdeen City Council is looking at buying out FirstAberdeen, is it possible that deregulation is about to end in large Cities and Metropolitan area's with a return to the pre deregulation situation especially if the Conservatives lose political power?

I am fairly sure that the Buses Bill 2017 only applies to England and Wales and that the Scottish Assembly has its own powers regarding bus operation. I may be wrong on this though.

[EDB325]

RE: Manchester Bus Franchising

(25/06/2019 16:05)Barney Wrote:  [quote='gilesbus1' pid='129933' dateline='1561473384']
Not to add salt to sore wombs but apparently there are also now calls for Glasgow City Council to investigate buying FirstGlasgow and once again Aberdeen City Council is looking at buying out FirstAberdeen, is it possible that deregulation is about to end in large Cities and Metropolitan area's with a return to the pre deregulation situation especially if the Conservatives lose political power?

I am fairly sure that the Buses Bill 2017 only applies to England and Wales and that the Scottish Assembly has its own powers regarding bus operation. I may be wrong on this though.

Perhaps you should rub that salt in sore wounds.......

[Mayneway]

RE: Manchester Bus Franchising
Why do people keep going on about ‘councils buying out operators and ending de-regulation’ ? There’s no suggestion in Manchester that is the plan. They still want the private companies to run the companies they just want to control what and how they run the services.

[gilesbus1]

RE: Manchester Bus Franchising

(26/06/2019 10:21)Mayneway Wrote:  Why do people keep going on about ‘councils buying out operators and ending de-regulation’ ? There’s no suggestion in Manchester that is the plan. They still want the private companies to run the companies they just want to control what and how they run the services.

That position could change over time, we have a minority Government in a difficult situation with Brexit who may be forced to call a General Election, which they would more than likely lose before the bus franchising comes into play, whats then to stop Corbin or however the new leader is giving them power to buy out operators or run services directly given that most of the big groups now seem to be in difficulties and up for sale? Pre-1986 is inevitable, especially as the Government members that brought it in are now dead and therefore can't defend it any longer.

[Barney]

RE: Manchester Bus Franchising

(26/06/2019 12:58)gilesbus1 Wrote:  That position could change over time, we have a minority Government in a difficult situation with Brexit who may be forced to call a General Election, which they would more than likely lose before the bus franchising comes into play, whats then to stop Corbin or however the new leader is giving them power to buy out operators or run services directly given that most of the big groups now seem to be in difficulties and up for sale? Pre-1986 is inevitable, especially as the Government members that brought it in are now dead and therefore can't defend it any longer.

This is getting slightly off topic now. A Conservative government created a privatised bus industry and deregulation in 1986 and a more recent one created the chaotic Brexit situation we are now in. The last thing a new leader would want to do - even if he does like making model buses in his spare time - is call a general election as it would more than likely lose power. As for the suggestion that a Corbyn-led government would nationalise the big groups is fanciful beyond belief as it would have to pay billions in compensation.

Any future re-nationalisation of rail operations would be done by simply allowing the rail franchises to expire and then operate the services by a state-owned company.

Getting back on topic, franchising would simply invite private operators to run bus services under public control and scrutiny as already happens in London.