By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
routeonerouteonerouteone
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Search
© 2024 routeone News. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Glasgow bus franchising advocacy draws furious McGill’s response
Share
Font ResizerAa
routeonerouteone
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd
- Advertisement -
-
routeone > News > Glasgow bus franchising advocacy draws furious McGill’s response
News

Glasgow bus franchising advocacy draws furious McGill’s response

Tim Deakin
Tim Deakin
Published: October 26, 2023
Share
Glasgow bus franchising draws furious McGills Bus Group response
SHARE

Franchising of bus services in the Glasgow city region is the “most effective way” to improve them, a report from the Centre for Cities (CfC) in partnership with pressure group Get Glasgow Moving (GGM) has claimed. It immediately drew an incandescent response from McGill’s Bus Group co-owner Sandy Easdale.

CfC and GGM claim that a franchised approach in Glasgow is preferable to either creation of a Bus Service Improvement Partnership (BSIP) or establishment of a municipally-owned operation. All three avenues are outlined in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 as part of bus reform efforts.

The two parties want that legislation to facilitate improved coverage by Glasgow’s public transport network and reverse bus deregulation in the city region, which the report claims “is widely seen as a failure.” Franchising would lead to “baked in” collaboration,” it continues.

Glasgow bus franchising ‘from the Vladimir Putin playbook’

Mr Easdale responded to the report’s publication in remarkable fashion. He describes the reregulation of bus services described within it as “businesses confiscation, straight out of the Vladimir Putin playbook.”

The McGill’s co-owner reacted in a similar manner to an offer made a day earlier by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham to work with the Scottish Government to help introduce bus franchising in the country. Mr Easdale said then via the Scottish Daily Express that he would fight any such moves “tooth and nail in the courts.”

Mr Burnham previously pledged to assist city regions in the North of England in delivering of franchising, noting that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority would be “more than happy” to engage in such support.

Glasgow bus franchising draws furious McGills response
McGill’s co-owner Sandy Easdale: Bus franchising is ‘business confiscation; I will not stand by and have my business stolen from me’

Mr Easdale also claims that Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is already preparing a plan to franchise bus services in Glasgow.

During 2021, SPT published a paper on overhaul of the region’s public transport that advocated centrally-managed services, although it noted that the approach was not yet final.

Addressing the CfC and GGM position, Mr Easdale calls those parties “wacky activists” and notes that despite being under SPT’s control, the Glasgow Subway does not run after 1800hrs on Sundays. Oversight of the city region’s transport network should be left “to those who understand the financial mechanics of the… industry,” he adds.

‘Significant’ cost of Glasgow bus franchising is acknowledged

Delivery of bus franchising in Glasgow would require a significant financial commitment, the report acknowledges. It says that in the first phase of wider overhaul, the Scottish Government must support SPT with “funding and powers to lead a franchised bus system,” and money for capital investment.

A 10-year settlement would be required to see through franchising. Based on costs in Greater Manchester, the report authors estimate that an initial five-year period would need £100 million, with more following.

Speaking about the policy position, Centre for Cities Chief Executive Andrew Carter says that Glasgow’s current economic underperformance is the equivalent of 4.6% of Scotland’s GDP. Poor public transport provision is one of the keys to that lag, he notes.

Glasgow bus franchising gets furious response from McGills Buses
Centre for Cities acknowledges that bus franchising in Glasgow would be expensive – ‘but it is a price worth paying’, the group says

“The Transport Act provides an important opportunity to improve public transport in and around Glasgow,” Mr Carter continues.

“Franchising buses under this route would better integrate different parts of Glasgow’s public transport system.

“To get this to happen will require large upfront investment from local and national government. But this is a price worth paying.”

Reregulation unaffordable, says McGill’s co-owner

Mr Easdale says that Scotland’s parlous fiscal state leaves franchising unaffordable. In response to Mr Burnham, he describes the process in Greater Manchester as “a huge tombola… at a huge cost to the taxpayer.”

Taking aim at the deregulated model, the report claims that it has given bus operators scope to “set higher [fares] and provide a lower-quality service,” removed the ability to cross-subsidise routes, and negated any incentives for local transport authorities (LTAs) to introduce long-term pro-bus policies.

Glasgow bus franchising is savaged by McGills co owner
Sandy Easdale has described bus franchising in Greater Manchester as ‘a huge tombola at a huge cost to the taxpayer’

Franchising is highlighted by the report as being more effective than BSIP provision. It adds that changes which could be achieved via partnership “are much more limited in scope.”

That is because an LTA is unable to set routes and fares, it continues, adding that integration with other modes is also more difficult.

BSIPs are also exposed to objections from bus operators, the report continues. If a sufficient number did so, a partnership “could not go ahead.” A further issue highlighted is that BSIPs do not allow LTAs to benefit “directly” from bus infrastructure as those bodies do not receive fare income.

However, in a proposed Enhanced Partnership Plus in West Yorkshire, operators have pledged to agree a defined process for reinvestment of benefits realised from public capital spend. Mr Easdale, meanwhile, is adamant that he will not “stand by and have my business stolen from me.” SPT has not commented on the report.

Download the Centre for Cities report here.

Share This Article
Facebook LinkedIn Threads Email Copy Link
ByTim Deakin
Tim is Editor of routeone and has worked in both the coach and bus and haulage industries.
Previous Article Daimler Buses invests to support electromobility journey Daimler Buses UK invests to support electromobility journey
Next Article paul townley first bus First Bus promotes Paul Townley to Rochdale GM role
- Advertisement -

Latest News

Temsa HD12 and HD13 delivered to Cresta Coaches under Asset Alliance rental deal
Temsa pair join Cresta Coaches on Asset Alliance rental agreement
Deliveries
Go-Ahead London – Managing Director
Careers Jobs
andy burnham tfgm £15.6 billion (1) The funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today (4 June) has been allocated to several combined mayoral authorities to use on rail, tram, road and bus infrastructure. Transport for Greater Manchester revealed today that part of the £2.5 billion it will receive will go towards making the Bee Network fully battery-electric by 2030. An as-yet undecided portion of that will support a planned investment in 1,000 new zero-emission buses over that period, the mayoral authority said. That is part of plans to build the UK's "first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system", with trams and trains also set to benefit. Liverpool City Region's already announced BRT system is among the projects to which its £1.6 billion will be allocated. Under those plans - due for realisation by 2028 - a high-speed network will be served by articulated buses which are modelled on the 'Glider' in Belfast. It is due to link Liverpool city centre with John Lennon Airport, and Liverpool FC and Everton FC's respective stadia along three routes. Although the model of bus has not been confirmed, a Van Hool Exqui.City on loan from Belfast was last year used as a demonstrator. That 18m vehicle can accommodate around 30% more passengers than a typical bus and has three sets of double doors. The funding will also go towards buses elsewhere in the city as the region heads towards franchising services by 2027. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram with a 'Glider' which was on loan from Belfast last year - an example of the sort of bus which could serve the new BRT Bus services in the East Midlands region will be boosted by the funding, thanks to the £2 billion handed to it today by the government. Some of that allocation will be used for a rapid transit network on the Trent Arc between Nottingham and Derby. Between the two cities, the Freeport, Infinity Park Investment Zone and Ratcliffe-on-Soar will also benefit from the improved bus services. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's newly announced commitment towards bus franchising has been boosted by £350 million in funding as part of that region's allocation. The funding for West Yorkshire will help build new bus stations in Bradford and Wakefield. Likewise, the Tees Valley Mayoral Authority will put its sum towards a new £15 million bus station in Middlesbrough. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change. "For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6bn of government investment, we’re giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so you and your family are better off."
TfGM’s all-electric bus plan boosted by new £15.6 billion package
News
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Bus
- Advertisement -
-

routeone magazine is the indispensable resource for professional UK coach, bus and minibus operators. The home of vehicle sales and the latest bus and coach job vacancies, routeone connects professional PCV operators with complete and unrivalled news coverage.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • GDPR Policy
  • Sustainability
  • Advertise
  • Latest Issue
  • Share Your News
routeonerouteone
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd