THE EFFICIENCY OF BRITISH URBAN BUS OPERATORS

This report is divided into four parts. Part 1 is mainly introductory; it describes each category of local authority bus undertaking and summarises the scale of operations of the sector and its geographical dispersal across the country. The political, economic and social background to the study are also outlined, to place the work in its wider context. Part 2 sets out the framework for the analysis, including descriptions of the data base, the concept of "efficiency" and the means by which it can be measured. Aggregate indications of the efficiency of the local authority sector of the bus industry as a whole are presented and discussed. This part of the report also includes chapters on labour costs and hours of work and on types of vehicle used. Part 3 contains the main comparative analysis between undertakings. Results are presented for variations in performance between operators divided into groups by size, and according to a series of alternative socio-economic classifications. The performance of individual operators within the groups is also assessed by means of a series of performance profiles which relate the size and productivity characteristics of each undertaking to one another. The fourth part is concerned with current and future policies and practice, including forecasts of the potential improvements in performance over the next decade. Opportunities for increased efficiency by means of attaining optimum peak: interpeak service ratios, alternative maintenance procedures (including sub-contracting) and more professional marketing are discussed and some brief comparison with other countries are made.

• Corporate Authors:

  Polytechnic of Central London, England

  35 Marylebone Road
  London NW1,   England 
• Authors:
  • Higginson, M P
  • White, P R
• Publication Date: 1982-12

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 320 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus priority; Bus transit; Buses; Costs; Demand; Economic efficiency; Economics; Forecasting; Income; Inspection; Jobs; Level of service; Local government agencies; Marketing; Motor vehicles; Operating costs; Optimization; Organizations; Peak periods; Performance evaluations; Personnel; Policy; Productivity; Public transit; Size; Sociology; Statistics; Time; Traffic signal preemption; Transportation operations
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency; Optimum; Use
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom; United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Bus services
• ITRD Terms: 1272: Bus; 224: Cost; 285: Demand (econ); 9014: Dimension; 255: Economics; 5911: Efficiency; 256: Income; 653: Level of service; 192: Local authority; 277: Marketing; 2271: Occupation; 1144: Operations (transp network); 9057: Organization (association); 612: Peak hour; 102: Personnel; 173: Policy; 648: Priority (traffic); 744: Public transport; 2253: Sociology; 5414: Time; 8119: United Kingdom; 8122: USA; 9084: Use; 1575: Vehicle inspection
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Data and Information Technology; Economics; Finance; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Public Transportation; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00371975
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: TSG Research Rpt. 8
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 29 1983 12:00AM