Congestion Charging

[Lucifer Box]

Re: Free PT

there is also considerable competition amongst bus operators.

Albeit not in London. London's public bus network was exempted from the market reforms of the 1980s.

[DodgyAgent]

Re: Free PT

Nope, make it free!

Nationalise it!

So one bus company running all bus services accross the whole of the UK spod?

[SupremeSpod]

Re: Free PT

Nope, Government Agency!

Nationalise it!

You know it makes sense!

Buy back all the buses and depots!

Build new buses and trains in the UK!

Feck me, it's brilliant!

It's the future!

Vote for Spod!

[tim123]

Re: subsidies

Sorry Dodgy, there is no requirement for a Bus company to run an unprofitable route.

The bus operators are free to run whatever profitable routes that they like and the unprofitable routes (and times of the day) are franchised out to the lowest bidder.

The only way this becomes unprofitable for the bus operator is if they get their calculations wrong. If the bids are all too high for the franchisor to accept the service doesn't run, they can't force an operator to run the route at a loss.

tim

[Shimano105]

Re: subsidies

Tax on fuel: simple, effective, unavoidable, "fair", immediately implementable

[Lucifer Box]

Re: subsidies

The bus operators are free to run whatever profitable routes that they like and the unprofitable routes (and times of the day) are franchised out to the lowest bidder

Except London, where a large wedge of the nation's buses are concentrated.

You provincials with your "man in a minibus" bus services really must try and keep up.

[SupremeSpod]

Re: subsidies

If it's a nationalised service provided for the people and paid for from taxation, it doesn't have to be profitable!

It's a service!

Free at point of use!

[TonyEnglish]

Re: subsidies

"Tax on fuel: simple, effective, unavoidable, "fair", immediately implementable"

But cannot be used to penalise the driver for driving on a busy stretch of road because he has to get to work for 9am.

[dazza12]

Re: Free PT

So one bus company running all bus services accross the whole of the UK spod?

Isn't that what already happens?

Is there a bus service that First Group aren't involved in?

[threaded]

Re: subsidies

TonyEnglish: I would suggest such a driver does get penalised for driving on a busy stretch of road: when stuck in a jam they burn more fuel over the journey than if the road was empty, also they have to set off earlier to get to work at the right time.