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How are bus support payments currently calculated? Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2016-06-07 07:49:28 - Graham Ellis
How are current bus subsisidies calculated? Based on competitive bids from different operators to provide supported services, or that's the theory. But if there's only one operator bidding, if there's a rush to replace a commercial service that's being withdrawn, there will be a temptation for the bidder(s) to take a look at how much they think the serice is worth to the subsidising authority rather than what it will cost them to run the service and (taking farebox into account) how much extra is needing to make a decent return on investment and risk taken.
I'm reading - from out of county - news that subsidy is being pulled from a bus that's far from quiet. A correspondent writes "The [route] is overall a well loaded service and [operator] are making a real effort to continue it without subsidy. The new timetable reduces M-F frequency by about 25%, and Saturday by 50%, AIUI with the intention of running with one fewer diagram (if that's what the bus people call it...) on weekdays and just one diagram on Saturday."
I don't know that particular service - so it may be that the intent of the subsidy was indeed to increase the frequency rather than support the service as a whole, but a part of me asks "was the subsidy actually needed until this point for this service". The current system is opaque; the structure's such that it's all too easy for services to be supported or given far more support funding than than actually need, and it's all too easy for perfectly proper operators to appear to be profiteering.
Illustration for this article is intentionally "effected" and clearly not Wiltshire ... I'm looking at a system and not any members of the system!
Under the new Bus Service Bill - mirrored [here] - the framework for support can be changed, providing bus operators with a much more stable longer term contract to work and develop under, and removing the whole possibility of hints of profiteering by holding councils to ransome too. I know it probably happens far less that has been hinted at, but an open system under which we all work for common goals would seem good for all as it would eliminate those suggestions.
Some other articles
Z407 - Option 24/7 - the way forward for Wiltshire buses What do people use the bus for in Wiltshire - survey interim results. Supported Bus Services in Wiltshire - analysis of written-in comments Wiltshire supported bus service consultation, early 2016 - interim results published This article Real life PHP application using our course training MVC example Buses in Wiltshire - potential changes and where we stand at the moment Buses - how did we get into the situation we are in? Wiltshire Supported Bus consultation - final few days What is happening on the 231 bus? What are you going to do about it? The end of competition on a bus route - the effects from then end of the 234 Rumours of bus changes by First in Wiltshire - what we know and suspect Getting to the Royal United Hospital - the Hopper and the alternatives Why is bus funding a much hotter topic than a new set of traffic lights? Rail user groups worried about what is happening on the buses What would the Wiltshire Council bus cuts mean for Melksham? The story behind the bus cuts, and what they could mean Where does Wiltshire bus subsidy money come from? Campaigning for a sensible bus solution and not against anyone! The power of scripting Buses - not about the buses, but about the people who use the buses Z511 - Public Transport - Road What do people use the bus for in Wiltshire - survey interim results. This article Buses in Wiltshire - potential changes and where we stand at the moment Saudi Arabia or Weymouth? The end, or the start? Wiltshire Supported Bus consultation - final few days Mallory Place bus stop - services to Bath What is happening on the 231 bus? What are you going to do about it? Getting to the Royal United Hospital - the Hopper and the alternatives Why is bus funding a much hotter topic than a new set of traffic lights? Working out the costs of running a bus service through the day Rail user groups worried about what is happening on the buses What would the Wiltshire Council bus cuts mean for Melksham? Making travel time useful time on public transport Campaigning for a sensible bus solution and not against anyone! Buses - not about the buses, but about the people who use the buses Questions for First (West of England) A comparison of the public transport alternatives to the Royal United Hospital, Bath - from Melksham. RUH Hopper - experience and thoughts forward Is the RUH hopper a limited, duplicate service running unnecessarily and at high cost? 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The painful cost of local travel to Melksham Easier public transport from Melksham to Bristol Airport Melksham to Chippenham (Station) bus services - times and routes A request for all of Melksham transport groups to work integrated Christmas Bus Schedule for Melksham - First Bus A long overdue meeting - a steeping stone towards coordinate transport user inputs Agenda for Wiltshire Link Travel groups meeting, Saturday 1st December 2012 Melksham Bus Issues - to be raised at First Bus Customer Panel Want to help us improve transport in Wiltshire? Here is how! Public Transport across Wiltshire - a new map Mixed mode travel - Information systems Public Transport Services - from and to Melksham Celebrate! Buses from Meksham to Bath Bus times - Chippenham Station to Melksham, with London connections New bus times - Melksham to Bath Bristol 50? Bristol 25? Getting around Dublin by public transport - some observations Melksham Area - buses, trains, cycles, and roads. Meeting, 17.1.2012 Transport in Cambridgeshire - seen by an outside observer. What can Wiltshire learn? I wish I was not a special case When competition is not a good idea - Melksham Bus Absurdity Coaches from Trowbridge and Melksham to London Public transport - road and rail How important is public transport to people in the Melksham area? Vintage Bus Running Day in Warminster. An example of good bus practise. Buses on the Cambridge Guided Busway Using public transport - USA style Changes (and no changes) at Melksham bus stops Buses - what they cost and their future direction in the SW and in Wiltshire Car Parking in Melksham - thoughts on the proposed scheme, and wider thoughts too Strong arm tactics in the bus industry? Poor result for the customer! Travel, Transport and Tourism - A vision for Melksham, 2026 What do these road markings mean? Could Confusion Kill? Bath - Melksham - Devizes buses from September London to Calne, Corsham, Melksham, Bradford-on-Avon, Chippenham by public Transport Bath to Devizes bus via Melksham - changing again in September Park and Ride at Batheaston - will it solve Wiltshires Ills? Bath to Melksham buses - times Melksham to London (Heathrow, and Central London) Melksham to Calne by public transport Dear Planners, please provide viable alternatives Is Melksham public transport actually used? Five guests, three groups, one car Integrated public Transport - what could be done for Melksham Why we have two buses an hour - but not a half hourly service Moving busstop! Public Transport from (and to) Melksham on Sundays Melksham - no trains, no southbound buses through the town Westbury Bypass Refused - looking forward Do you support a decent train service? Please sign up! Supporting Parkinsons and Trains The Rise and Rise of First Bus Fares Bath - Melksham - Devizes. Bus route changes, new timetable Talk on TransWilts train service to Green Party Melksham - Swindon. Train v Bus v Car HST Power Car TravelWatch SouthWest Buses from Well House Manor, Melksham, to Bath Travel Across Wiltshire - the game Two years of campaigning for a train service Comparing bus stops Train service - petititon reply Lawrence Webb's Melksham Taxi service Heard, yes. Considered, no. The case for the train. Journey planning - Xephos v Transport Direct Vintage Bus Day Kiss and Ride a popular bus number PHP course. Come by train.