West Yorkshire bus franchising

[LucyP]

"Not between Harrogate and Wetherby where competition resulted in the public purse having to fund the former route."

Not true. It actually led to lower fares, a more frequent service, and a faster bus route. Transdev reduced eventually reduced the frequency of the 7, and but for competition, there would be only 1 bus per hour between Harrogate and Wetherby, whereas during the day, there now are 3.

Transdev would have likely demanded public funding for the Follifoot route, or would have changed it to their current route.

 

[SCH117X]

"Not between Harrogate and Wetherby where competition resulted in the public purse having to fund the former route."

Not true. It actually led to lower fares, a more frequent service, and a faster bus route. Transdev reduced eventually reduced the frequency of the 7, and but for competition, there would be only 1 bus per hour between Harrogate and Wetherby, whereas during the day, there now are 3.

Transdev would have likely demanded public funding for the Follifoot route, or would have changed it to their current route.

How it not true when route through Follifoot then had to be funded by the public purse? If Connexions were not duplicating Transdevs service no doubt the latter would not have been reduced.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Not true. It actually led to lower fares, a more frequent service, and a faster bus route. Transdev reduced eventually reduced the frequency of the 7, and but for competition, there would be only 1 bus per hour between Harrogate and Wetherby, whereas during the day, there now are 3.

(My bolding)

Lower fares are irrelevant now under the fare cap. Whether someone hops on a 7 or X70, it will cost them £3 for a single journey. Whether we return to a non-capped fares scheme is anyone's guess.