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Bus deregulation a failure, report finds

31/10/2006

Deregulated bus services are not working in major metropolitan regions such as Greater Manchester, a report has found.

According to the House of Commons transport select committee, the infamous 'bus wars' in Manchester city centre is an example of how deregulation in the industry is not working.

The committee recommends that local transport authorities, such as the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA), are given increased powers to regulate bus networks.

Councillor Roger Jones, who chairs the GMPTA, 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.

"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 GMPTA is urging bus passengers to write to their MPs about the state of the buses in Greater Manchester and how they think services could be improved.



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