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Write to MPs about state of the buses, urge transport chiefs

26/10/2006

Bus passengers in Greater Manchester are being urged to write to their MPs about the state of the buses in the city-region.

The Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) wants local people to tell their MPs about their experiences on the buses over the last two decades and how they think the service could be improved.

It is 20 years since the Conservatives deregulated bus services, which was done in an effort to promote choice and lower fairs. Instead, the policy has failed to benefit the lives of passengers, says the GMPTA.

Councillor Roger Jones, who chairs the authority, said: "Bus deregulation was intended to provide a modern bus network for the 20th century but it has clearly failed.

"My post-bag is regularly full of letters from people who are fed up with being let down by their local bus service failing to run or, even worse, being cut back by bus companies."

According to the transport chiefs, bus fares have increased by 42 per cent above inflation since deregulation, while subsidies to bus operators have "risen to unacceptable levels".

The North West Enquirer recently said that Greater Manchester "badly needs someone like Bob Kiley", the man who was responsible for sorting out London's transport system after being called in by London mayor Ken Livingstone.




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