Jane Cole discusses CPT’s efforts as strategies are launched and the economy begins to reopen in England
I applaud the way in which the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) pushed really hard to ensure that the coach strategy Backing Britain’s Coaches was launched before Easter. The team has produced a high-quality piece of work which will be used by CPT and operators alike to promote the importance of the sector.
On 20 April I will be chairing a CPT event titled The Benefits of a Thriving Coach Industry, which is a discussion with the transport and tourism ministers to debate how coaches can play a central role in delivering the UK’s economic, tourism and environmental goals.
At Blackpool Transport Services (BTS) we are pleased to be getting ready to welcome coaches to Rigby Road and the facility at Gynn Square will also still be available to operators for the foreseeable future. I am also working to secure more coach stabling at a park and ride facility for the summer and illumination season.
We now also have the long-awaited National Bus Strategy, so at BTS we have already started dialogue with Blackpool Council to confirm our commitment to an Enhanced Partnership. We have put forward our ideas for a Bus Service Improvement Plan. This includes the financing required for the move to electric bus technology and to upgrade the garage at Rigby Road bus depot.
It is imperative to act now so that local authorities understand the need to commit to Enhanced Partnerships by June 2021, otherwise access to government funds will be lost. We intend to have the same conversation with Lancashire, Wyre and Fylde councils to ensure that, where BTS crosses local authority boundaries, we can influence thinking on its Bus Service Improvement Plan.
This week sees the reopening of non-essential retail across England. At BTS we have been constantly monitoring travel patterns on bus and tram so we are able to adjust services to meet increased demand. We did this when schools returned and we are ready to increase services as passengers return.
As we seek to show passengers that things are better with bus, I am pleased that we took the opportunity during the pandemic to replace our bus ticket machines with Ticketer. Multi-user ticketing, contactless payments, tap-and-go, and the opportunity to work with a range of partners and stakeholders on the use of joint e-vouchers will help create much needed revenue and growth opportunities.
Finally, it is great to see the start of the CPT Regional Annual Dinner calendar with the announcement that the London and South East Region is to hold its event in Eastbourne in October 2021. I am really looking forward to attending.
