New First Bristol Bus Boss

[whole diary]

[Lee]

The new managing director of First Bristol says sorting out the city's bus services is one of the greatest challenges of his 25-year career in public transport (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=20115989

Justin Davies, who has also been put in charge of First's bus services in Somerset and the former Avon area, said he was looking forward to his new role.

But he admitted he faced a difficult task to provide people with the bus services they deserve.

Mr Davies refused to rule out route cancellations in 2008, saying changes could be necessary to improve punctuality and reliability.

It means areas on the fringes of the city could suffer the same fate as Southmead, where residents campaigned in vain last year to keep the 55 service.

He said he was strongly in favour of a smart card, similar to the Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) card used in London, which could be used on First's trains as well as its buses.

Mr Davies, who has taken over operations in Bristol after moving from South Wales, is now based at the First depot in Lawrence Hill.

He also gives his view on a Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Authority and a Bus Rapid Transit route along the Bristol to Bath cyclepath in the link below.
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20114945&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

Bristol Evening Post comment piece (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20114846&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

Here is an article on First's bus control centre (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20114938&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922