Concessionary bus fares and EU rules lead to real problems

[whole diary]

[vacman]

Cheap bus?

I've never seen those words next to each other 

Yes, i'm really not joking.

Cardiff bus are stupidly cheap compared to first

Something to do with NOT being ENGLAND.

Let me think, Cheap Buses, Free Prescriptions, investment in Rail, all paid for by Westminster (IE the English Tax payer).

Wales a better place to live me thinks.

No it's not cheap because it's in wales and not england. It's cheap because it's run by the city council, and it's in there best intrest to make it cheap so they get people off there roads. (oh and they have valley lines to compete with, who also charge a stupidly cheap ticket price)

now edit that to the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) taxpayer, and you'd be on the right train of thought.

Ok if it's nothing to do with being in Wales, only that the City Council run the Buses, just tell me where you GET CHEAP BUSES in England, any town will do.

Birmingham? its about ^1.20 max fare.

[Jim]

Birmingham? its about ^1.20 max fare.

Thats only because of all the "Network West Midlands" stuff though!

[Lee]

Birmingham? its about ^1.20 max fare.

Thats only because of all the "Network West Midlands" stuff though!

Network West Midlands link.
http://www.networkwestmidlands.com/

[Lee]

Stagecoach Devon threaten cuts because of it...
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144125&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232450&contentPK=19469102&folderPk=108202&pNodeId=251466

The councils dont like it....
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144125&command=displayContent&sourceNode=144125&contentPK=19469100

But others do...
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144125&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232450&contentPK=19469108&folderPk=108202&pNodeId=251466

The scheme to bring in free national bus passes for the over-60s should not cost North Somerset Council any extra money, says the authority (link below.)
http://thisissomerset.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=147472&command=displayContent&sourceNode=242195&contentPK=19572929&folderPk=113662&pNodeId=251478

[Lee]

DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) link.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/concessionary/Reimbursement

This simple spreadsheet tool is designed to assist Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs^▸ (Track Circuit Actuator)) and operators in calculating reimbursement due from concessionary fares schemes. It should be used in conjunction with the appropriate written DfT guidance the latest version of which can be found on the DfT website.

So there you have it...

[Lee]

The new national bus pass, which will come into effect on April 1, has been launched in Plymouth by Francis Drake look-alike Brian Whipp (link below.)
http://thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=133464&command=displayContent&sourceNode=133158&contentPK=19661929&folderPk=78031&pNodeId=133174

Plymouth City Council and First yesterday celebrated the first anniversary of new buses running from The George junction into the city centre. Staff handed out slices of birthday cake to early morning passengers.

[Lee]

Concerns about this at Oxford City Council (link below.)
http://oxfordmail.net/display.var.2010498.0.free_bus_passes_bill_fears_grow.php

[Lee]

DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) survey link plus press release.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/scienceresearch/orresearch/busconcessionsurvey.pdf

http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=349968&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False

[Lee]

Gloucestershire Echo article (link below.)
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=231771&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231774&contentPK=19903898&folderPk=108867&pNodeId=231888

[Lee]

A couple of relevant DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) links.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/concessionary/nbcfaddtngrants/consultspecialgrantfunding.pdf

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/road/workingtime/rptworkingtimedirective

[Lee]

According to a poll, 69 per cent of bus pass holders in Plymouth plan to explore the shops in other areas, and 60 per cent are intending to catch up with family and friends (link below.)
http://thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=133464&command=displayContent&sourceNode=133158&contentPK=19982842&folderPk=78031&pNodeId=133174

[Lee]

DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) Final Assessment of the Impact of English National Concessionary Bus Travel Pass (link below.)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/aboutria/ria/bustravelassess.pdf

[Jim]

North Somerset have done quite well. I think locally, Hampshire have come off worse.

[Lee]

On April 1, 60-year-old Roger Jenking is travelling from Oxford to Crewe - solely using local buses (link below.)
http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.2096701.0.60yearold_to_test_out_new_bus_scheme.php

He has decided to test a national concessionary local bus scheme which starts that day.

Mr Jenking plans to catch the 9am bus from Oxford to Chipping Norton.

From there he will catch the 10.02am service to Stratford, before hopping on the 11.45am to Birmingham.

From Birmingham he catches the 1.30pm to Wolverhampton, then the 3.46pm for Stafford, where he hopes to catch the 5pm to Stoke.

The final leg of his journey will see him taking a 6.34pm service to Crewe, which arrives at 7.25pm.

If Mr Jenking was paying for the trip, it would cost ^21.

The only direct National Express coach from Oxford to Crewe on that day leaves at 1.55pm and arrives at 6.20pm. A one-way fare costs ^24.

Mr Jenking plans to travel back by train.

[smokey]

On April 1, 60-year-old Roger Jenking is travelling from Oxford to Crewe - solely using local buses (link below.)
http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.2096701.0.60yearold_to_test_out_new_bus_scheme.php

He has decided to test a national concessionary local bus scheme which starts that day.

Mr Jenking plans to catch the 9am bus from Oxford to Chipping Norton.

From there he will catch the 10.02am service to Stratford, before hopping on the 11.45am to Birmingham.

From Birmingham he catches the 1.30pm to Wolverhampton, then the 3.46pm for Stafford, where he hopes to catch the 5pm to Stoke.

The final leg of his journey will see him taking a 6.34pm service to Crewe, which arrives at 7.25pm.

If Mr Jenking was paying for the trip, it would cost ^21.

The only direct National Express coach from Oxford to Crewe on that day leaves at 1.55pm and arrives at 6.20pm. A one-way fare costs ^24.

Mr Jenking plans to travel back by train.

All that bus travel, sorry that's my Idea of Hell.

Could be when I pass on, I'll go to Old Nicks place, might just find Hell is a Never ending bus ride!