London contractors back city franchising

The Centre for Cities says Reading is an example of where bus markets extend beyond council boundaries. Reading Buses celebrated 100 years of municipal bus operation on 6 December with a civic run over its original route by Alexander Dennis Enviro400CBG City-bodied Scania N280UD 707 (YP67 XCB) and preserved 1935 Park Royal-bodied AEC Regent 47 (RD 7127). We will cover the celebrations in more detail next month. MARK LYONS

London tendered operators Abellio, Metroline and Tower Transit have sponsored a paper for the Centre for Cities think tank, calling for franchising in other British cities. The think tank is dedicated to improving the performance of UK city economies, with much of its funding provided by non-private sector organisations.

‘Because cities do not have control over bus services, they have done less to address the problems of growing car-based congestion and falling bus ridership,’ says the paper. ‘Cities are only indirectly exposed to the decline in ridership and fare revenues this causes, reducing the incentive to insulate buses from congestion.’

Want to read more?

This is a premium article and requires an active subscription.

Existing subscriber? Sign in now

No subscription?

Pick one of our introductory offers