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Go-ahead for West Yorkshire Quality Contracts process

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radamfi

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http://www.wymetro.com/news/releases/12-06-29QCs

Metro Chairman Cllr James Lewis has described today’s all-party decision by the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) to continue to develop its plans to introduce a Bus Quality Contracts Scheme as ‘good news for the county’s bus users’.

“Today’s decision, which has cross-party support in West Yorkshire, also has support from bus passengers themselves, as our own consultations and media polling have shown," he said. "Everyone involved in transport locally realises that we need to do something to make bus travel more attractive and address falling patronage, and that with the taxpayers meeting half the total cost of bus services, there needs to be more accountability.”

"Although the ITA welcomed the Association of Bus Operators in West Yorkshire’s offer of enhanced partnership, the proposals currently fall short in the key areas Metro believes there needs to be change - particularly in providing a seamless, common integrated ticketing option without the confusion caused by the current mix of passes that can only be used on one operator’s services or premium-priced multi-operator passes.

"Metro will continue discussions with the bus operators and listen to their suggestions as well as consulting with other partners as it prepares a draft Public Interest Statement,” continued Cllr Lewis. “.

"Future Authority approval of the Public Interest Statement would then lead to a full public consultation exercise towards the end of the year and submission to the Quality Contract Scheme Board."

“I would also like to stress that the Authority’s ambition is to work with operators and District Councils in making local bus services into a growing, not declining, market – which would benefit everyone as well as protecting jobs.”
 
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AndyHudds

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This great news and was hoping that it would get the go ahead. The bus companies in West Yorkshire have had it there own way for far too long,in particular First,cutting services,buses not turning up on time or not at all,service cuts/high fares and a general disregard for the travelling public.

This can't come soon enough but the proposed start date isn't until 2015 so we've still 3 years to wait......unfortunately.
 

radamfi

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Any statements about this from the operators?

Keith McNally, chairman of the Association of Bus Operators in West Yorkshire:

http://www.passengertransport.co.uk/2012/06/west-yorkshire-to-vote-for-quality-contracts/

“In consultation with the ITA and Metro, bus operators have put together comprehensive partnership plans for transforming bus travel in West Yorkshire. These plans include commitments on the introduction of ‘Oyster’ style Smartcard ticketing, huge investment in new passenger friendly buses, fewer changes to services and demanding targets to improve reliability and punctuality.

“Up and down the country, in places like Nottingham, Brighton, Oxford and Liverpool, partnership approaches have been proven to deliver benefits for passengers. Similar plans for West Yorkshire are ready and waiting to be introduced almost immediately without any extra cost burden to local council tax payers.

“The ITA had been very complimentary about these plans and we believe they have the support of passengers. The plans are the result of long and detailed discussion with the ITA and we are very surprised that they have now turned their back on them and decided instead to “go it alone” rather than work in partnership.

“‘Quality Contracts, which the ITA are now backing, will take years to put in place, are completely untried and will cost millions of pounds. The administrative cost, including consultants fees, of just setting up a quality contract scheme, will we understand be some £3m and the scheme will then cost many millions more to operate every year. Metro and the ITA have not yet said what the precise cost of their plans will be to local tax payers and are yet to demonstrate that they can be afforded.

“Bus passengers want to see improvements in bus services but we believe this should be done by working with bus operators and not by a return to cumbersome and expensive town-hall style control of buses, which we last saw in the 1970s and 1980s. Importantly, as major employers in the region, bus operators are also concerned that the ITA’s plans will mean the jobs of bus workers across the region, about 4,500 people, will now be put out to tender.”
 
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