Thoughts on ENCTS

[neilmc]

Last week I was in Cumbria and happened to notice, to my surprise, that there was a reasonably frequent (hourly) service around the 532 Grange Circular, with an hourly frequency on the long X6 from Kendal to Barrow and even an evening service albeit on a reduced frequency.

The buses I saw in this area seemed well-loaded with elderly people, though I had no way of knowing whether they were local people using an essential lifeline to get to the shops, doctors, etc or scoundrels from Manchester, Liverpool or Lancashire having a free day out at Cumbria's expense.

But the thought struck me - would these services run at all without the ENCTS?
Whatever the payments to the operators, these seem sufficient to maintain a relatively good level of service in a sparsely populated area. Without the ENCTS might these services wither and die as pensioners find they can't afford the fares, or club up and use taxis instead?

 

[South Westerly]

Last week I was in Cumbria and happened to notice, to my surprise, that there was a reasonably frequent (hourly) service around the 532 Grange Circular, with an hourly frequency on the long X6 from Kendal to Barrow and even an evening service albeit on a reduced frequency.

The buses I saw in this area seemed well-loaded with elderly people, though I had no way of knowing whether they were local people using an essential lifeline to get to the shops, doctors, etc or scoundrels from Manchester, Liverpool or Lancashire having a free day out at Cumbria's expense.

But the thought struck me - would these services run at all without the ENCTS?
Whatever the payments to the operators, these seem sufficient to maintain a relatively good level of service in a sparsely populated area. Without the ENCTS might these services wither and die as pensioners find they can't afford the fares, or club up and use taxis instead?

Before ENCTS pensioners paid half fare and life was fine!

 

[mbonwick]

Those services would (allegedly) do a lot better without ENCTS!

X6 replaced the Council supported X35 which used to (still does) carry a lot of people going for appointments at Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal. Given that most of those people were elderly, you can see how the service did better in pre-ENCTS days.

 

[Blindtraveler]

As iv just said elsewhere, a fool is being made of consessionarry bus pases nationwide and something farer must be introduced.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

X6 replaced the Council supported X35 which used to (still does) carry a lot of people going for appointments at Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal. Given that most of those people were elderly, you can see how the service did better in pre-ENCTS days.

You have made a most valid point with regard to elderly people having to attend for appointments at the larger hospitals, as these hospitals are now, under the current medical thinking, tend to be stated as medical centres of excellence in certain well-defined treatments, that once may have been offered to the populace at smaller local hospitals. Whilst the taxi or bus fare may not have been a great amount to the local hospital, there are many cases of people in the rural communities in areas such as Cumbria and North Yorkshire that may well have distances of around 50 miles now to travel to make such an appointment.

 

[34D]

I can believe the 50 miles actually. On a bus this could well be 3 hours.

 

[mbonwick]

You have made a most valid point with regard to elderly people having to attend for appointments at the larger hospitals, as these hospitals are now, under the current medical thinking, tend to be stated as medical centres of excellence in certain well-defined treatments, that once may have been offered to the populace at smaller local hospitals. Whilst the taxi or bus fare may not have been a great amount to the local hospital, there are many cases of people in the rural communities in areas such as Cumbria and North Yorkshire that may well have distances of around 50 miles now to travel to make such an appointment.

Off topic, but just thought I'd point out that the hospital situation has been that way for a long, long time. If anything, recent policy would have made the situation worse with WGH downgraded. That means that if you were unlucky enough to have a heart attack in Grasmere, the nearest hospital would be Lancaster, 40-odd miles and best part of an hour on blues and twos away. Thank goodness sense (with a lot of vocal campaigning) has prevailed.

For a lot of places along the X35/X6 route, Kendal simply is the nearest hospital, and/or the most convenient with (once upon a time - sadly no longer) no changes required.

 

[pompeyfan]

I remember a recent news story on BBC south today which showed a scania omnicity with a full seated load, the news reporter asked for a show of hands as to who had a 'free ride' of which all but one persons hand went up, this is why the route in question was pulled, whilst I understand the need for the scheme. Unfortunately there are people out there who abuse the system, and a flat 50p fare on production of the card would deter a lot of the one stop hoppers, and make certain routes viable.