PLYMOUTH AND THE "BUSES" WHITE PAPER

This paper describes a study of the possible effects of the proposed UK government's deregulation proposals on the city of Plymouth. The main concern is that the proposals would eliminate time-of-day cross-subsidy, thus jeopardising service levels in the early mornings, evenings and Sundays, unless the city council were to subsidise unprofitable services at those times of day. A detailed study was undertaken of operating costs and revenues by time of day to establish the extent of the cross-subsidy. The implications of the white paper proposals for fare levels and rate-fund subsidy were examined, together with cross-subsidy within a loss-making period, using a computer-based network model. Potential commercial networks and associated "subsidised" networks were identified. Modelled competition between operators and routes demonstrated the interactions between commercial operators and subsidised services, and illustrated the problems of instability created by this interaction. Other issues addressed included: effects on school transport policies and concessionary fares; potential for innovatory service types; additional council expenditure required. For the covering abstract of the seminar see TRIS 456300.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Public Transport Planning and Operation. Proceedings of Seminar J held at PTRC Summer Annual Meeting, University of Sussex, England, 15-18 July 1985, V P266.
• Corporate Authors:

  PTRC Education and Research Services Limited

  110 Strand
  London WC2,   England 
• Authors:
  • LAST, A
• Conference:
  • Planning & Transport Res & Comp, Sum Ann Mtg, Proc
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 187-198

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Bus transit; Competition; Conferences; Deficits; Deregulation; Federal government; Financing; Hours; Legislation; Level of service; Local government; Local government agencies; Loss and damage; Mathematical models; Off peak periods; Operating costs; Organizations; Periods of the day; Private enterprise; Public transit; Schools; Subsidies; Tariffs; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Modifications
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Bus services; Off-peak
• ITRD Terms: 235: Competition; 8525: Conference; 226: Cost benefit analysis; 244: Financing; 183: Government (national); 1556: Legislation; 653: Level of service; 192: Local authority; 9040: Loss; 6473: Mathematical model; 9048: Modification; 611: Off peak hour; 221: Operating costs; 9057: Organization (association); 9118: Private; 744: Public transport; 101: School; 241: Tariff; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Law; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00456309
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 1986 12:00AM