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Greater Manchester transport boss welcomes MPs' bus report
Reporter: Ask Bury
Date online: 30/10/2006
Greater Manchester transport boss welcomes MPs' bus report
The Chair of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority has welcomed an MPs' report on the future of the bus industry as an opportunity to turn around 20 years of decline in bus use since deregulation in 1986.
The influential all-party House of Commons Transport Select Committee today published its report into Bus Services Across the UK.
The Committee concludes that the deregulated bus system is not working for major metropolitan areas outside London, such as Greater Manchester. In its introduction, it cites the recent 'bus wars' in Manchester city centre as an example of the deteriorating situation in these areas.
The report recommends a change in legislation to give transport authorities strengthened powers to better regulate their local bus networks.
Chair of GMPTA, Councillor Roger Jones, said: "I agree with the Committee that bus deregulation has not worked. As it has identified, we need a fresh approach if we are to turn around 20 years of declining bus use in our major conurbations.
"I welcome the report's conclusion that local transport authorities should be given the powers they need to improve their local bus networks.
"If the government acts upon these suggestions we will be able specify bus networks that are integrated, reliable and modern. This will give us a proper basis upon which to work with bus operators to attract new passengers to the bus."
The report also recommends more powers and better resources for the eight Traffic Commissioners who are responsible for the registration of bus services and licensing of vehicles.
Councillor Jones commented: "The Traffic Commissioner for the North West is severely under-staffed so I very much agree with the recommendation for more resources to help her better discharge her duties. In particular, I welcome the suggestion that bus operators should have to share their journey information with their Traffic Commissioner so that there is a much greater level of accountability."
The provision of bus services outside London was deregulated on 26 October 1986. Since then, bus journeys in Greater Manchester have fallen by 38% from 355 million passenger journeys in 1986 to 219 million in 2005, whilst bus fares have risen by 42% above inflation.
GMPTA/E submitted evidence to the Transport Select Committee Inquiry into Bus Services Across the UK in June this year.
ENDS
Media contact: Becky Marr or David Harris on 0161-242 6245, or by email at communications@gmpte.gov.uk
The Chair of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority has welcomed an MPs' report on the future of the bus industry as an opportunity to turn around 20 years of decline in bus use since deregulation in 1986.
The influential all-party House of Commons Transport Select Committee today published its report into Bus Services Across the UK.
The Committee concludes that the deregulated bus system is not working for major metropolitan areas outside London, such as Greater Manchester. In its introduction, it cites the recent 'bus wars' in Manchester city centre as an example of the deteriorating situation in these areas.
The report recommends a change in legislation to give transport authorities strengthened powers to better regulate their local bus networks.
Chair of GMPTA, Councillor Roger Jones, said: "I agree with the Committee that bus deregulation has not worked. As it has identified, we need a fresh approach if we are to turn around 20 years of declining bus use in our major conurbations.
"I welcome the report's conclusion that local transport authorities should be given the powers they need to improve their local bus networks.
"If the government acts upon these suggestions we will be able specify bus networks that are integrated, reliable and modern. This will give us a proper basis upon which to work with bus operators to attract new passengers to the bus."
The report also recommends more powers and better resources for the eight Traffic Commissioners who are responsible for the registration of bus services and licensing of vehicles.
Councillor Jones commented: "The Traffic Commissioner for the North West is severely under-staffed so I very much agree with the recommendation for more resources to help her better discharge her duties. In particular, I welcome the suggestion that bus operators should have to share their journey information with their Traffic Commissioner so that there is a much greater level of accountability."
The provision of bus services outside London was deregulated on 26 October 1986. Since then, bus journeys in Greater Manchester have fallen by 38% from 355 million passenger journeys in 1986 to 219 million in 2005, whilst bus fares have risen by 42% above inflation.
GMPTA/E submitted evidence to the Transport Select Committee Inquiry into Bus Services Across the UK in June this year.
ENDS
Media contact: Becky Marr or David Harris on 0161-242 6245, or by email at communications@gmpte.gov.uk
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