Travel West Midlands Responds to Warning
Bus companies have been warned that they face fines of up to ﾣ550 for late running of buses following a Government announcement over this week end.
The Confederation of Passenger Transport the bus industry's own trade group have welcomed the move, but warned that operators should not be penalised for circumstances that are beyond their control. High-lighting traffic congestion caused by burst water mains etc
Under the plans, Ministers have challenged bus operators to get 95 per cent of their vehicles out of depots within five minutes of their scheduled departure. Companies will face a sliding scale of penalties if they fail to meet the target, with fines kicking in if their performance falls below 70 per cent.
"We are very much supportive of the fines - if buses are late then it is absolutely right operators should be fined," said Simon Posner of the Confederation of Passenger Transport the organisation that represents Britain?s bus industry." If three buses do come at once it is generally because there has been a burst water main or other problems causing traffic build-up," he added, stressing that traffic commissioners have ruled that firms cannot be held responsible for late-running services caused by congestion and roadwork's.
Phil Bateman Corporate Affairs Director Travel West Midlands added that "This Government initiative appears to run in tandem to the view of the The Bus Partnership Forum.
The Bus Partnership Forum is an alliance of operators, local authorities and the Government set up by the Department for Transport to improve bus services.
As part of the Forum bus operators have been promoting Punctuality Improvement Partnerships between local authorities and bus operators to solve problems for bus passengers from the constant pressure of increasing traffic levels.
Out of this partnership work the Traffic Commissioners have indicated that they are reviewing standards that they set for bus punctuality. They will be issuing New Practice Direction that will articulate the flexibility that they have taken in considering issues of service performance. We know that the Traffic Commissioners have welcomed the new approach to Punctuality Improvement Partnerships.
We will obviously be looking at the detail of the latest Government announcement over the next few days."
It is reported that the new system of fines will be enforced by traffic commissioners with semi-independent status, who are appointed by local authorities.
-The Confederation of Passenger Transport is the trade organisation for Britain's buses.
- Travel West Midlands is part of the National Express Bus Division as is Travel Coventry, Travel Dundee, and Travel London.
- All of these bus companies are affiliated to the Confederation of Passenger Transport.
Published 23rd January 2005