East Lothian Bus Forum 26th November 2013 in John Muir House

We’ve not yet got the draft agenda for the upcoming East Lothian Bus Forum, but are expecting a good discussion on the draft Passenger Charter that the joint short life working group have been working on, with service updates and changes from the operators and progress reports on capital bids to the Bus Investment Fund. Gavin Booth from Bus Users Scotland is expected to say how the new body, based in Edinburgh, is bedding in.

The 3rd meeting will be on 26th November 2013 in John Muir House, Haddington

RELBUS gives support to Bus Bill

RELBUS, a group campaigning for better bus services in rural East Lothian, has made a submission supporting in principle the provisions of MSP Iain Gray’s proposed parliamentary Bill on bus regulation.  Consultation on the Bill ended on 11th October.  It proposes to provide local authorities with greater powers to set service levels for local bus services, including a power to group profitable routes with non-profitable ones before they are put out to tender with operators. The premise of Iain Gray’s proposal is that current arrangements for the provision of bus services are letting down some communities and that the unregulated market has failed to protect those who depend on local services.  RELBUS agrees having witnessed last year the wholesale withdrawal of commercial and supported services by First in East Lothian and Midlothian. It does not see the status quo bringing forward the kind of change in provision that it considers necessary based upon what local people are saying.

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Opinion piece: How to improve bus services from a passenger perspective

Harry Barker is Chairman of The Omnibus Society and regular contributor to the professional bus press and media.

We may have to accept that it is unlikely that a major increase in the number of services or frequency will be seen in the foreseeable future for financial reasons, both the commercial operators and the Council being restricted in this regard.

Therefore any improvement will require to come from better practices within the current network which are not expensive to implement.

Passengers should expect the following minimum standards to be available:

Continue reading Opinion piece: How to improve bus services from a passenger perspective