Discussion 26.5.20 - what can we regain from the restart of public transport?

Notes from Reginald25 - with huge thanks:

Brief talk and discussion - what can we regain from the restart of public
transport (but how low do we start!)?

Session for Coffee Shop members (although notes declared to be going public_

Present - Grahame, MartyJon, RogerW, Lee, GBM, Bryony, Struving, S&Tengineer, BobM, Reginald25.

*     Noted that currently buses (and probably trains) that members have seen are almost empty
*     Mixed messages (slide 2)

*     Rate of public transport ramp-up determined by government, starting from a very low point
*     Funding to keep services going and to ramp-up from government to pre-pandemic levels appears to contradict 'opportunity to change services to meet a new normal'

*     Appears more cooperation between bus companies will happen, as companies try to match service offerings to demand and capability.
- Previously such cooperation was not permitted under competition rules.
- Particularly important for smaller operators
*     What funding will there be for buses when service patterns become established?

*     Return to pandemic services not always desirable where the original provision was not ideal (e.g. Melksham to Bath services were run by two companies with a considerable overcapacity).

*     As working patterns change, services will adjust to suit demand (or demand will adjust to fit in with service provision). Only likely to be settled after a number of years.

*     Once a day bus services (e.g daily coach to London from Melksham) are likely to be harder to get back, if ever if there’s the right case
*     Extra services (trains and buses) can lead to unexpected demand, e.g. very late trains/buses
*     Timetable presentation from GWR would be useful for an online TWSW session
* ‘Turn up and go’ (as in the 70s/80s for London to Scotland air services) might be a ;possible model, but thought not really appropriate for trains, only buses
* ‘Run when sufficient passengers’ model might also be considered, again mainly for buses.

*     Working patterns likely to change with continued home working, staggered start times and modified working site locations
*     Staggered working not as easy to implement as there are interactions such as child care to fit in. Staggered starts likely to be more significant in London and similar conurbations
*     Requirements of commuter services to conurbations are likely to change, but not clear what the long-term requirements for long-distance will be, perhaps little change.

*     Social distancing will affect capacity.

*     Noted that in Cornwall average set a loading on some services in 25%, implying a peak loading of full capacity. With SD that could give rise to passengers being unable to board.

*     Group opinion was that business models will probably change
*     Williams report will influence this as it will be influenced by the pandemic
*     Franchise models likely to be different if at all.
*     Models will depend on the how the demand changes as we climb out of lockdown.

Edit to add two bullet points