QUEUING FOR THE BUS - OR TAKING THE TRAIN?

This article assesses the continuing argument about the substitution of bus services for rural railway lines in the United Kingdom. This subject was thoroughly discussed in a surprisingly under-reported scrutiny published by the monopolies and mergers commission (mmc) in February 1989. Its terms of reference included investigating whether: (1) the quality of service was appropriate; (2) fares were correct; (3) services could be matched closer to demand; (4) services could be improved without increasing costs; (5) guaranteed bus services should be substituted for rail. Potential candidates for bus substitution were examined, and had to meet the following criteria: (1) maximised infrastructure savings; (2) physical feasibility; (3) acceptable journey times; (4) ability to handle traffic volumes; (5) good bus/rail interchange facilities; (6) consideration of existing bus services; (7) the need for substantial investment to keep a route open; (8) minimisation of wider social/economics disbenefits. 8 case studies across the whole range of provincial services were examined. The mmc's findings included the following: (1) in many areas, bus and rail are complementary, not competitive; (2) topography is a major factor, with rail sometimes providing attractive, fast, direct services; (3) congestion is sometimes a deterrent to substitution; (4) the recent upturn in rail use, combined with increased revenue and cost cutting, has weakened the case for bus substitution; (5) only an extensive and unpopular programme of substitution could bring substantial cost savings.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00396303
• Corporate Authors:

  Reed Business Information, Limited

  Quadrant House, The Quadrant
  Brighton Road
  Sutton, Surrey  United Kingdom  SM2 5AS
• Authors:
  • Mathew, D
• Publication Date: 1989-4-13

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 12-15
• Serial:
  • SURVEYOR
  • Volume: 171
  • Issue Number: 5040
  • Publisher: Hemming Group, Limited
  • ISSN: 0039-6303

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buses; Costs; Demand; Improvements; Intermodal terminals; Investments; Level of service; Public transit; Railroad transportation; Rural areas; Tariffs; Transfer points; Travel time; Trip length
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Substitute
• ITRD Terms: 9000: Alternative; 224: Cost; 285: Demand (econ); 9108: Improvement; 227: Investment; 697: Journey time; 653: Level of service; 744: Public transport; 1173: Rail bound transport; 328: Rural area; 241: Tariff; 1185: Transport interchange (passengers); 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Finance; Public Transportation; Railroads; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00498720
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM