Bus Services Act 2017

[Taunton]

If a differential fare structure between bus/tram/metro is advantageous in terms of maximising patronage, why is that principle not widely used in developed countries?

In the Soviet Union, in urban areas, trams were 3 kopecs, trolleybus 4 kopecs and bus/metro were 5 kopecs. These applied nationwide, whether right across Moscow or in small urban areas. These fares lasted from the 1960 currency reform to 1990 perestroika.

 

[nerd]

If a differential fare structure between bus/tram/metro is advantageous in terms of maximising patronage, why is that principle not widely used in developed countries? Even in American cities subway and bus usually costs the same, although transfers are not always free.

I suspect, if TfGM were designing a system from scratch; they might well do so around a common public transport fare. But the current morass of deregulated bus fares is where we are; and that includes both exploitative high fares along corridors where there has been little chance of competition, and predatory low weekly/monthly fares along a few favoured high demand South Manchester corridors. Most prospective bus travellers are now likely to find single fares a great deal cheaper, but those on favoured routes are likely to have to pay more - which is politically tricky. Some of this can be headed off into continuation of Uni-rider special tickets for students; but regular bus commuters, on these favoured corridors, would have to pay considerably more for a weekly ticket, if bus fares were to be set according to corresponding Metrolink fare zones.

But it would be financially impossible for TfGM reduce the Metrolink fares towards corresponding existing bus fares. The expanded Metrolink system is being substantially funded by operating profits from tram fares; and in any case, TfGM have no difficulty filling trams in South Manchester at current fare levels. It may be argued that it is 'unfair' that the peak period return bus fare from West Didsbury to the city centre currently costs £3.00; compared to £5.70 on the tram; but that does not stop the overwhelming majority of current travellers from West Didsbury taking the tram rather than the bus. Peak period tram travel is valued so much more than peak period bus travel, that commuters will readily pay more to use it. In which case, it might be said to be alternatively 'unfair' if the fares were set the same for very different qualities of journey.

 

[WatcherZero]

The Bus Services Bill comes in to force on 27th June, on 30th June Greater Manchester Combined Authority will have a vote on whether to publish statutory notice of their intent to consider a bus franchising scheme and will follow it up with the legal requests for information from the bus companies as well as requesting their alternate proposals for consideration during the audited review.

 

[Dentonian]

I've been unable to access this Forum for some months. Not sure why, but after an internet connection failure on Sunday, I suddenly found this and at least one other Forum accessible again!!!
Point being, I might have missed discussions on this subject. I'm guessing that the thread was moved after the Bill was enacted, but where to, and how far back do I need to go to find the most recent Reply?

Ta

 

[Blackpudding]

I've been unable to access this Forum for some months. Not sure why, but after an internet connection failure on Sunday, I suddenly found this and at least one other Forum accessible again!!!
Point being, I might have missed discussions on this subject. I'm guessing that the thread was moved after the Bill was enacted, but where to, and how far back do I need to go to find the most recent Reply?

Ta

Hi Phil. The link below is to the thread we exchanged e-mails over. Is this the one you mean? If not I suspect this is all there is.

https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...chising-assessment.152353/page-2#post-3098653