I think that 2020 will be a turning point for many small operators.
The costs of keeping up with regulations such as emission control zones and the ULEZ continue to exert pressure on the viability of businesses. A gloomy prediction, but I expect more failures this year.
Bus use is up in some areas but down in others. The overall picture is one of decline and there are many factors in play. Congestion is a major one… in many cases it is quicker to walk in London than it is to travel by bus.
Politics plays a major part in all of this. What’s needed is smart traffic lights, more bus lanes and a new way of dealing with road construction delays (such as 24hr working until repairs are completed) – I could go on.
Richard Worth’s letter on PSVAR [routeone/Letters/8 January] is spot on. The whole issue is an absolute mess. DfT should have realised that there are not enough compliant coaches and buses in the market anyway. Even if there were, many operators simply do not have the money to upgrade – the industry for the most part is reliant on the bread and butter home to school contracts and has been under severe financial pressure for years, starved of money and investment.
Ian Ashman
A&J Coaches
Washington, Tyne and Wear
