Wednesday 10 June 2009
Metro Chairman Councillor Greaves has praised bus companies, Geldards Coaches and Harrogate Coach Travel Service, which have stepped in to replace two bus services abandoned by First in its latest round of cuts.
Geldards Coaches has registered the 711 service between Bradford, Pudsey and the White Rose Centre, and Harrogate Coach Travel will be taking over the 653 service running hourly between Otley and Harrogate, with two hourly extensions to Ilkley & Guiseley.
Details of the new services will be publicised before they start on 20 July.
Councillor Greaves, who has laid the blame for any reduction in the number of fare-paying passengers firmly at First’s recent, above-inflation fare rises said, “Here we have two small local operators with foresight who can see an opportunity to develop new services and new customers.
“Their entrepreneurial approach is a complete contrast to that of industry giant First, which is simply walking away from passengers in pursuit of profits.
“However, while this is good news for people who use these two services,” continued Councillor Greaves, “there are still a lot of local bus users who are going to find themselves suffering a reduced service or no service at all because of First’s refusal to think beyond the next announcement of what it will be paying to its shareholders.
“What astounds me is that at the same time as taking these short-sighted decisions to cut services, which it claims are business-led and commercial, First still expects Metro and local councils to fund infrastructure improvements and priority measures that speed up their services, from the public purse.
“They either want to be commercial or they don’t. How can we spend large amounts of public money on permanent improvements when we cannot be sure there will be any bus services to use them a few months later?
“As I have already said, the de-regulated bus market is not working and we need to re-shape the industry to find a way to ensure the current monopolies face more competition and that passengers see better services.”
Councillor Greaves confirmed that Metro is still talking to other local bus operators and First itself, to see what could be salvaged from the proposed cuts.
”We cannot step in across the board to help First ensure its shareholders are comfortable but we have a duty to support services that are socially or economically vital," he added.
