Fleetmaster
Member
Anyone see scope in London for a Manchester style patchwork franchising implementation?
I think the territory could sustain 20 distinct concessions, 4 inner London tranches (NE, NW, SE, SW), then two concentric rings of 8 tranches (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW). This reflects the fact the outer ring of eight would be larger areas but require less buses.
Four concessions would be re-tendered per year, cycling the whole system every five years. No one operator can own more than four patches, and it would be expected that all units are operated as individual business units, to ease their transfer as and when a tender is lost.
Route, service, ticket and certain vehicle specifications would continue to be centrally planned.
Units would compete on terms and conditions, business efficiency, contract performance and customer satisfaction.
Unlike Manchester, to foster a sense of competition and pride, I would drop the 100% red rule, and allow the four central areas to have 80% red liveries, the middle 8 with 50% and the outer 8 to choose thier own scheme.
I would let units choose their own name and apply it prominently on buses, with their network status reflected in a standardised tag line, "...a Transport for London bus service".
It would hopefully raise standards across the board, and if not, at least make the London bus scene a little bit more interesting!
I think the territory could sustain 20 distinct concessions, 4 inner London tranches (NE, NW, SE, SW), then two concentric rings of 8 tranches (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW). This reflects the fact the outer ring of eight would be larger areas but require less buses.
Four concessions would be re-tendered per year, cycling the whole system every five years. No one operator can own more than four patches, and it would be expected that all units are operated as individual business units, to ease their transfer as and when a tender is lost.
Route, service, ticket and certain vehicle specifications would continue to be centrally planned.
Units would compete on terms and conditions, business efficiency, contract performance and customer satisfaction.
Unlike Manchester, to foster a sense of competition and pride, I would drop the 100% red rule, and allow the four central areas to have 80% red liveries, the middle 8 with 50% and the outer 8 to choose thier own scheme.
I would let units choose their own name and apply it prominently on buses, with their network status reflected in a standardised tag line, "...a Transport for London bus service".
It would hopefully raise standards across the board, and if not, at least make the London bus scene a little bit more interesting!
