D-reg full blast
Page 84
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Full deregulation of Britain's bus and coach services comes into effect this week, ending the three-month transition period during which operators have not been allowed to change their commercial services.
The move has already brought a number of protests from local authorities and pressure groups, with claims that up to 4()0 local bus services across the country are about to be cut. There will also be many changes to timetables and routes. Up to 500 more services, however, could be created by the latest changes.
According to Caroline Cahrn, chairman of the National Federation of Bus Users, the result is "like a badly sewn-up patchwork quilt — some bits join together, some have big gaps. No-one knows what's going on and the passengers are just hapless victims." Up until now operators have not been allowed to cancel or introduce new bus services under the three-month freeze which has existed since deregulation began on October 26 last year.
Under full deregulation, however, operators need only give 42 days' notice of their intention to alter commerciallyrun services, to withdraw from a service they cannot run at a profit, or to introduce new services.
All of the changes that come into effect this week are the result of notifications registered with the Traffic Commissioners more than six weeks ago. Many of the 2,000 variations registered with the 11 TCs could well conceal cuts, although the majority of variations are likely to be to service timetables and route frequencies.
The ability by operators to withdraw from unprofitable routes within 42 days is most likely to affect rural, weekend and off-peak services. Buswatch, however, claims that the Traffic Commissioners have been unable to process all notifications, with the result that it may be some time before County Councils and other operators know what is happening.
Michael Simmons, chairman of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, says that he is "trying to get an agreement with the bus operators to restrict the introduction of changes to certain agreed dates. That way, the travelling public is at least prepared for what is going to happen."
West Yorkshire Road Car has already announced that it is withdrawing some early morning, evening and Sunday services, which it formerly operated on a commercial basis. Simmons says the PTA "is considering whether it can afford to subsidise these services, but we can only do this while the money lasts."