Who controls Plusbus?

[TUC]

Whilst travelling on First's bus link between Luton Station and Luton Airport. I saw a notice on the bus advising that Plusbus tickets we no longer valid on the service due to a decision by Luton Council to exclude the service from the scheme.

The decision to exclude the service seems odd in itself but what intrigued me was the reference to the local authority making the decision to exclude the service. I always assumed that Plusbus was co-ordinated by the TOCs or by ATOC rather than being each scheme being organised locally by the council.

Does anyone know more about how Plusbus is set up or about the background to the Luton decision?

 

[bb21]

Is the link bus funded by the council?

 

[TUC]

Is the link bus funded by the council?

As far as I have been able to find out, its contracted by Luton Airport, which may be one of the factors but in itself it shouldn't be a reason for exclusion. Its no different to a local authority contracting for the service at the end of the day.

 

[sonic2009]

is.the bus.service not.funded by FCC?

 

[bb21]

Luton Borough Council owns Luton Airport, who must contribute towards the cost of running these buses. I suppose that they can decide whether they want it to be part of the PlusBus scheme.

 

[sonic2009]

The plusbus scheme is promoted by ATOC, and administered by Journey Solutions, a partnership of Britain's leading bus and train operating companies.

 

[Aictos]

is.the bus.service not.funded by FCC?

The reason Plusbus is not accepted on that service is due to a decision made by the local council, which right or wrong has happened.

FCC doesn't fund Plusbus directly but I believe that all operators in the scheme get a share of the revenues raised.

 

[northwichcat]

I think the councils/PTEs must have something to do with it. Arriva and Warrington Borough Transport both operate in Northwich and Plus Bus isn't available there - yet both Arriva and Warrington Borough Transport services do accept Plus Bus tickets in other areas.

 

[jamesontheroad]

What I find bizarre is that NIR and Ulsterbus use PlusBus in Northern Ireland - even though NIR isn't a ATOC member and even though Translink own both services. NIR and Ulsterbus even print their tickets on the same ticket stock. I've no idea why they must be paying to use the PlusBus branding and service when they could surely offer the same kind of rail and bus tickets themselves.

http://www.translink.co.uk/NI-Railways/Footer/PlusBus/

 

[Flying Snail]

Whilst travelling on First's bus link between Luton Station and Luton Airport. I saw a notice on the bus advising that Plusbus tickets we no longer valid on the service due to a decision by Luton Council to exclude the service from the scheme.

Since when has any fares been required for that bus service? Last time I used it there was no charge. That was a few years ago now though.

 

[radamfi]

Since when has any fares been required for that bus service? Last time I used it there was no charge. That was a few years ago now though.

It now costs £1.50 or £2.50 return. You can get a through ticket from anywhere to Luton Airport (not Parkway) which costs £1.50 single or £2.50 return extra compared to a ticket to Luton Airport Parkway.

 

[bb21]

Discussions about Translink split into a separate thread here.

 

[Aictos]

The company responsible for Plusbus is Journey Solutions as I found out when I had a problem being retailed a Plusbus addon last month.

 

[paul1609]

I think the councils/PTEs must have something to do with it. Arriva and Warrington Borough Transport both operate in Northwich and Plus Bus isn't available there - yet both Arriva and Warrington Borough Transport services do accept Plus Bus tickets in other areas.

I think you're right! Down here on the Kent/ Sussex borders a Rye Plusbus is valid for up to 10 miles from the station on the infrequent heavily subsidised rural buses.

 

[ess]

in west yorkshire i think plusbus covers the entire county (which includes leeds, bradford, huddersfield, halifax etc)

 

[Simon11]

There's no need for Plusbus travelling to Luton Airport.

Tickets to Luton Airport Parkway are just to the station.

Tickets to Luton Airport include the trip to Parkway station and the bus ride.

Or you can always purchase a ticket from Parkway to the airport for the bus