West Yorkshire Metro calls for bus contract scheme

Nov 19 2009 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

BUS companies could be told which routes to run, how often and what fares to charge under new proposals.

Kirklees councillors are being urged to back plans for a Quality Bus Contract Scheme at a meeting of West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority tomorrow in Leeds.

The aim is that it will bring in more consistent services – and even better bus shelters.

West Yorkshire Metro, which oversees local bus and rail services, said developing such a scheme would pave the way for a ‘franchised bus network’ in West Yorkshire that people in London have enjoyed for years.

Metro said the scheme would also respond to complaints from local bus users and the findings of an Office of Fair Trading investigation of the bus industry, which identified anti-competitive practices where operators had local monopolies.

A Metro spokesman said: “Through a Bus Quality Contract, Metro would be able to specify local bus routes, frequencies and fares – removing the current confusion over different operators’ tickets and reducing the number of service changes.

“Operators would bid to run services which would be managed though contracts designed to provide consistent high standards across the county.

“As well as serving the main centres, the bus network would provide good interchange with other bus and rail services.”

Metro said other measures which could be introduced as part of the 10-year contracts would include better bus shelters, more ‘real-time’ information for passengers, extending CCTV on buses and introducing environmental improvements.