UK's First Statutory Quality Bus Partnership

TRAVEL DUNDEE SIGN'S THE UK'S FIRST STATUTORY QUALITY BUS PARTNERSHIP
Travel Dundee, the Scottish bus operation of National Express Group, is pleased to announce the signing of the UK's first Statutory Quality Bus Partnership ("SQP") which is due to come into effect from April 2006.

The signing, in the presence of Scottish Transport Minister, Tavish Scott at the beginning of September, also saw the launch of the UK's first Bus Punctuality Improvement Partnership which will set out the performance standards expected from bus services in Dundee.

The SQP has evolved following the creation in May 2004 of the Dundee Concordat by transport partners, Dundee City Council, the Scottish Executive and Travel Dundee. The Concordat committed partners to ongoing investment in the Dundee transport system. To date over ﾣ15 million has been spent on the system with Travel Dundee delivering 18 new buses making the Travel Dundee fleet the first major urban operator fleet in the UK to be 100% low-floor, easy-access with total CCTV coverage. In addition Automatic Vehicle Location technology, funded by Scottish Executive, has been rolled out providing real time information and improved information at bus shelters.

Commenting on the initiative, Councillor Fiona Grant, Chair of Transportation, Dundee City Council said: "We are delighted that we have brought together partners who are like minded and committed to bringing about improvements to the quality of bus services in Dundee.

"We are now able to provide services that customers really want to use and have a commitment from all parties who play a role in the provision of bus services to ensure there is consistency in the level of services we can provide. We look forward to working together with our partners to ensure improvements continue to be delivered."

Phil White, Chief Executive, National Express Group said: "Working in partnership with Dundee City Council, the Travel Dundee management team have led the way for the rest of the bus industry.

"We are delighted that we have been able to work with the Scottish Executive and Dundee City Council in finding a way forward to bring real benefits to the services we provide. We believe that statutory quality partnerships can bring real benefits to bus services thereby encouraging customers to use public transport to a greater extent. We hope that other local councils will take their lead from Dundee's example."

Published 8th September 2005