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Pioneering approach to
transform bus services in the Liverpool City Region gets the
green
light PEOPLE actively choosing to take
the bus, rather than using it because they may have no choice about how to
travel, is the drive behind a pioneering approach to transform bus services
that Merseytravel Committee Members approved on Thursday, 3 December 2015.
Merseytravel will now enter into a formal 'Bus Alliance' initially
with operators Arriva and Stagecoach; who together operate 90% of
commercial bus services in the Liverpool City Region; focused on growing
the number of fare paying passengers, improving customer satisfaction and
driving up investment for the benefit of all who use bus services.
The ambitious growth targets of a 10% increase in passenger journeys; the
equivalent of over 9 million more journeys; by April 2017, will be 1 of
the first of their kind in Britain.
With 80% of public transport journeys in the Liverpool City Region being
made by bus, but only 10% of these being commuter journeys, there is
potential for bus to play a much more significant role in growing the City
Region's economy, better linking people with jobs and opportunities.
The Bus Alliance will take a City Region wide approach looking at matching
bus routes to demand, the clarity of fare structures and value for money,
the quality of vehicles, how easy it is to get information, reliability and
punctuality of services and the standard of customer service.
As part of the Devolution Deal, and subject to the emerging Buses Bill, the
City Region has been given the ability to franchise bus services that
secures powers similar to London and many other European cities.
While a business case for franchising is being developed, it is expected
that if a decision was taken to enact the powers it would be a number of
years before it could be introduced. The Bus Alliance will enable
improvements for customers now.
Key work areas will include:-
► Increased levels of investment in new and
greener vehicles.
► All new vehicles to have Wi-Fi and at seat USB charging points, and an aim
for existing buses to have Wi-Fi + USB retrofitted.
► Development of a clear point of contact for dealing with customer
feedback.
► Development of City Centre Bus Routing strategy, making journeys quicker
and more direct.
► A review of the City Region bus network, ensuring a clear network that is
easier to understand, encourages growth and is less reliant on public
subsidies.
► Improved bus links to and from John Lennon Airport to Liverpool South
Parkway and the City Centre.
► Streamlined service changes from January 2016, with only 3 change dates a
year, common to all operators. This makes bus services more stable and will
allow information to be updated more easily for the benefit of customers.
► Review of zonal structures and pricing to make ticket buying more simple.
► Review of all customer information including further development of Real
Time Information.
► Development of an approach to better integrate bus and rail.
► Delivering new bespoke Customer Service training for all drivers
The Bus Alliance will look to build on the good work that has already been
achieved such as investments in fleet by the operators and joint work with
Merseytravel to improve the cleanliness of buses.
The introduction of the £2 all day bus ticket for young people, MyTicket,
and the increase in age eligibility for young people's fares, up to and
including the age of 18 across much of the network, is a particular recent
success with the City Region now having the best young people's ticketing
offer for bus outside of London.
In addition, work with operators has already made our Walrus smart ticketing
scheme the most active scheme outside London.
The Bus Alliance will take this work to the next stage through an investment
plan to deliver even more improvements for customers. Cllr Liam Robinson, Chair of Merseytravel
told us that:- "Giving the green
light to this pioneering approach to bus means we can make meaningful
improvements now, working to make it a mode of choice rather than last
resort.
Rail gets the attention but eight in 10 public transport journeys in the
Liverpool City Region are actually made by bus. Bus is arguably more
flexible and improvements can be made, and noticed, much more quickly.
Together with operators, we have a real chance to do things differently,
benefitting customers and the wider economy, building on what we've already
achieved with young people's tickets and smart ticketing."
Said Gary Nolan, Regional Director North, Stagecoach UK Bus:- "We are
pleased to be part of the Alliance, and working together with our partners
will provide greater momentum to further improve the quality of bus services
across the City Region."
Commenting on the formation of the Merseyside Bus Alliance, Phil Stone,
Regional Managing Director of Arriva North West and Wales said:- "The
Merseyside Bus Alliance will first and foremost improve bus services for
passengers by setting firm targets for all operators and stakeholders. We
are delighted to be part of a stable partnership which will ultimately
deliver better journeys, new vehicles, innovations for customers, improved
infrastructure and allow us to make longer term investment plans for
Merseyside" |
