Deregulation could cause chaos
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/ Government proposals to deregulate and privatise London's buses "as soon as possible in a new Parliament" have been attacked as a "recipe for chaos" by opposition groups.
In its A Bus Strategy for London consultation paper, the Department of Transport promises to open up London to free competition and to sell off London Buses_ But existing London-wide concessionary fare schemes would remain in place and a new agency will be set up to oversee the infrastructure of bus stops and shelters.
The whole process would take three years.
Before deregulation came into effect, all tendered service contracts would be extended to give some stability. This would be followed by commercial route registrations by existing and new operators: if there were to be any gaps in services the tendering authorities would ask for extra tenders.
Actual deregulation would take place at the start of year two, followed a year later by the privatisation of London Bus subsidiaries.
The Transport & General Workers' Union has come out against the changes.
"The Government's proposals to deregulate London's buses would be a disaster for both bus workers and the travelling public. The Government has handed us a loaded gun. We intend to aim it and pull the trigger," says TGWU district officer Ken Fuller.