Speed is key for Liverpool bus passengers

Nov 15 2007 by David Higgerson, Liverpool Daily Post

INCREASING bus speeds on major parts of Merseyside’s network could deliver a significant increase in passenger numbers, a report will claim today.

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) will say by increasing bus speeds by 10% across 10% of the network and other improvements that passenger numbers could rise by 13% in Merseyside.

Moving Forward – New Opportunities, New Passengers will be launched today at the city’s Anglican Cathedral.

If the 13% rise were achieved it would result in 1.8m fewer car journeys according to the CPT, helping to reduce the region’s carbon footprint.

Last night the chief executive of passenger transport authority Merseytravel, Neil Scales, said he welcomed any effort to increase bus patronage because it was in everyone’s interests to do so.

Simon Posner, chief executive of the CPT, said: “Buses play a vital role in Merseyside, providing mobility for people that live, work and study in the area.

“We need to ensure that bus services are meeting the needs of all these people.”

The report, which was put together with two of the largest operators in the area – Arriva and Stagecoach – argues for better planning between companies and local authorities.

Better bus priority measures – such as traffic signal phasing and the remodelling of junctions – and more bus lanes would help improve speeds and increase passenger numbers.

Better information and simpler ticketing arrangements would also help increase bus speeds and passenger numbers the report argues.

Phil Stone, managing director of Arriva North West, said: “If you increase the speed of buses, you increase the number of passengers.

“As soon as you quicken up services, passengers come back.”

He said Merseytravel was good at working with operators, but that local authorities also had a part to play. The company has committed to invest £45m in city bus services in exchange for priority measures.

Key observations for Merseyside in the report are:

Punctuality has to be treated as a priority;

Operators and Merseytravel need to collaborate on better information and timetables;

Increased frequencies and better reliability will attract more passengers;

Innovative marketing needs to be increased.

The report concludes: “The vision for Merseyside buses is based on high quality and straightforward services. Above all, this vision should be a shared one based on trust and openness.”

davidbartlett