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: Bus Emergency Scheme heralds industry reform in Wales
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 > Bus Emergency Scheme heralds industry reform in Wales
NewsOperatorsTop Story

Bus Emergency Scheme heralds industry reform in Wales

Tim Deakin
Tim Deakin
Published: July 7, 2020
Share
SHARE

The Welsh Government has opened the door to wholesale bus reform through partnership in Wales with the announcement of a Bus Emergency Scheme.

Contents
Wales Bus Emergency Scheme: The initial fundingLong-term funding from Scheme heralds industry reformWhat does the news mean for Bus Services (Wales) Bill?

In the short- to medium-term, the Bus Emergency Scheme will replace the Bus Hardship Fund in Wales. It will provide an operating subsidy to make up for lost revenue brought about by lower patronage and reduced vehicle capacities caused by the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond that, the Scheme signals the start of a “reshaping” of bus services in Wales. That work will be based on partnership, according to a statement made on 2 July by Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport Lee Waters.

“The agreement underpinning the Bus Emergency Scheme is intended to signal the beginning of lasting partnership between operators and public bodies,” says Mr Waters. That will “enable a reshaping of Wales’ bus network, supporting the management and interaction across transport modes including smart ticketing, unified routeing and integrated timetabling.”

Wales Bus Emergency Scheme: The initial funding

Under the initial three months of the Bus Emergency Scheme, Bus Services Support Grant and concessionary fare reimbursement will be maintained at “historic levels.” Operators will also work with local authorities (LAs) and Transport for Wales (TfW) to determine the service level that is to be provided. Those discussions will consider:

  • How best to serve key workers
  • How best to serve the economy as it restarts
  • The capacity of buses, considering service patterns and social distancing guidance
  • The accommodation of any staff shortages faced by operators.

The Welsh Government will provide further funding to support that agreed level of service provision.

It is not yet known how that money will be distributed. However, one operator has suggested that it will not simply be proportional to the size of a business or paid on a pence per kilometre basis, as it largely is in England outside London through the Coronavirus Bus Services Support Grant Restart fund and its predecessor.

Instead, the money may be allocated based on the overall hardship that the operator concerned is suffering. It is understood that the priority is to see the money delivered to the industry quickly rather than incur a delay while a complex allocation formula is worked out. More information is expected to be supplied to operators soon.

Long-term funding from Scheme heralds industry reform

Beyond the emergency period, the Welsh Government and TfW will design a new funding mechanism for the bus industry in Wales in collaboration with LAs and operators. It will include a “fair and consistent” approach to fares through agreements that are within the principles of an economic contract and a social charter.

“This approach will enable us to work in partnership to improve services, including cleanliness, reliability and safety and security, which will be critical during the recovery period while we work together to secure an efficient, sustainable and robust bus network for the future,” says Mr Waters.

Bus Emergency Scheme Wales
The Bus Emergency Scheme has the potential to ‘change the Welsh bus industry forever,’ one senior manager in the country has commented

It is understood that the changes will involve passengers being consulted on fare and timetable revisions.

Multi-operator and multi-modal ticketing is also high on the Welsh Government’s agenda as part of the contracts to be agreed by operators.

Commenting on the longer-term impact of the Bus Emergency Scheme, the same manager observes that it has the potential to “change the Welsh bus industry forever.”

On a positive note they have seen increasing evidence of an acceptance by the Welsh Government that there is a need for a long-term uplift in bus funding if its aims for reform are to be delivered.

What does the news mean for Bus Services (Wales) Bill?

The same manager – who cautiously welcomes the Welsh Government’s approach with the Bus Emergency Scheme – questions whether the Bus Services (Wales) Bill will be passed now a route to constructive partnership has been opened with bus operators.

When the Bill was introduced in March, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales Ken Skates said that deregulated bus services in Wales had been “an abject failure.” Mr Skates added that “the free market model simply does not work,” although the Bill allows for the creation of partnership schemes.

Passenger group Bus Users has also cautiously welcomed the announcement of a Bus Emergency Scheme. But its Director for Wales, Barclay Davies, has called for more information about the longer-term partnership approach to be made available by the Welsh Government.

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 LowCVP Annual Conference to be held on 15 July
Next Article Alfa Travel awards Alfa Travel takes precautions ahead of August restart
- 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