East Lothian Bus Passenger Charter

We’ve been updating the bus timetables for Rural East Lothian and it struck us – not for the first time – that each of the operators are providing variable amounts of the information that bus passengers in rural east Lothian expect. And we wondered:

What if bus passenger information and levels of service were more consistent?

What if there was some way that providers could be encouraged to improve?

What if we could get each of the operators to sign up to a Bus Passenger Charter?

The Bus Passenger Charter would be a list of commitments that each operator / provider would strive to achieve.  The commitments would cover at very least fares and fare structure, timetables and route information, related publicity including that at bus stops and on buses.

It could go further and include commitments to accessibility and perhaps a range of standards of service, e.g. punctuality over and above statutory obligations. Changes to timetables might involve greater passenger consultation.

We aren’t starting from a completely blank sheet, as I found this over at the Bus Users UK website, but what do others think should be in the East Lothian Bus Passenger Charter?

Standing room only

RELBUS went along as an observer to the Trevelyan Hall, Pencaitland to hear what local people had to say about their bus services. The meeting was politically charged with the local elections just one day away, but political point scoring aside, the public had its say.

Judging by the turnout – standing room only – people feel very strongly about their local bus services, a position that is hardly new, which Iain Gray, MSP was quick to point out.

In the event it seems that Lothian Buses will be stepping into the breach and offering a cheaper and – we assume – better quality service to the residents of Pencaitland and Ormiston. This is obviously a big relief, though we are interested to see the detail when it emerges.

Continue reading Standing room only