ITEM EX22E

EXECUTIVE - 11 DECEMBER 2001

BUS SUBSIDIES

Report by Director of Environmental Services

ANNEX 1

INFORMATION ON SERVICES

SECTION E - CHANGES IN ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUBSIDISED SERVICES

This Annex gives background information on services for which existing subsidy contracts have been surrendered and tenders invited for replacement services. These subsidy contracts have all been surrendered with only the minimum three months notice by Stagecoach South Midlands (except contract PT/S 2 which is currently held by Arriva the Shires Ltd).

Contract PT/W 1

Service Description

A Thursday only shoppers service between South Leigh and Witney via Stanton Harcourt, Northmoor, Standlake and Ducklington, offering one journey in each direction.

Standlake, Northmoor and Stanton Harcourt have a regular service (Mondays to Saturdays) to/from Oxford by Thames Travel service 18. Ducklington is served by Stagecoach Oxford route 19 every hour (Mondays to Saturdays) to/from Witney and also has a ‘commuter service’ of one journey each way to/from Oxford on service 100. The proposed Interlink study will consider a regular route between Witney and Abingdon that, if proceeded with, is likely to render the 45 service unnecessary.

Operated by Stagecoach Oxford, service 45.

Local councils served 7

Prices sought for

PT/W 1 – Existing level of service, 1 journeys per day in each direction, Thursday. A re-timing of the first journey had already been agreed with the Parishes and Stagecoach but not implemented. This has been incorporated in the tender specification.

Proposed end date of new contract: 28.10.02 with possible extension to 28.10.06

Contract PT/W 105

Stagecoach Oxford gave three months’ notice of termination of this contract for service 19 (Witney – Bampton – Carterton). They also intimated that they will be de-registering the unsubsidised commercial journeys on this route from the same date. Currently of the fourteen journeys provided in each direction, four and a half are subsidised under this contract and nine and a half are provided commercially.

In view of the likely significant increase in costs necessary to provide the existing level of service, I have invited tenders for replacement, both at the present level and at a lower level.

Service Description

An hourly daytime service in each direction, Mondays to Saturdays between Witney and Carterton via Ducklington, Bampton, Clanfield, Bourton and Alvescot.

Clanfield and Bampton have a regular 2-hourly service (Mondays to Saturdays) to/from Oxford by Thames Travel service 18. Ducklington is served by Stagecoach Oxford route 45 on Thursdays to/from Witney and also has a ‘commuter service’ of one journey each way to/from Oxford on service 100. Carterton has a number of regular links to both Oxford and Witney. This route is the only public transport service to Bourton and Alvescot

Operated by Stagecoach Oxford, service 19.

Local councils served 8

Prices sought for

PT/W 105A – Existing level of service, hourly, daytime, every 45 mins peaks, in each direction.

PT/W 105B – Reduced level of service (approx. 6 jnys, 2-hourly service).

PT/W 105C – Service requiring one bus and driver (approx. 5 jnys each way)

Proposed end date of new contract: 28.10.02 with possible extension to 28.10.06

Contract PT/W 10

Service Description

A Monday to Saturday daytime service at two-hourly intervals between Carterton, Lechlade and Swindon via Kencot, Filkins, and Highworth. There is one Sunday journey in each direction, currently provided (commercially) for operational reasons for which is not intended to seek a replacement

For most of the route in Oxfordshire, service 64 provides the only public transport service, including that to the villages of Kencot and Filkins. There are other services to/from Lechlade (in Gloucestershire) and frequent services between Highworth and Swindon.

Operated by Stagecoach Oxford, service 64.

Local councils served 6 (in Oxon)

Prices sought for

PT/W 10 – Existing level of service, 1 bus operation.

Proposed end date of new contract: 28.10.02 with possible extension to 28.10.06

Contract PT/S2

A Monday to Saturday peak and off-peak service between Oxford, Milton Common, Stokenchurch and High Wycombe, offering six journeys in each direction per day.

Other services operate between Oxford and Waterstock Cross Roads, and in Buckinghamshire between Stokenchurch and High Wycombe. There is a regular express coach service (Jetlink 757) between Oxford and High Wycombe, stopping intermediately only within Oxford and at Stokenchurch. However, service 275 is the only daily bus service for the Oxfordshire settlements of Milton Common, Tetsworth, Postcombe and Aston Rowant.

I understand that the company may be willing to tender for a replacement service if it requires fewer resources (i.e. one bus and driver instead of two). I have accordingly invited tenders for replacement, both at the present level of service and at a lower level.

Operated by Arriva the Shires Ltd, service 275.

Prices sought for

PT/S2A – Existing level of service, 6 journeys per day in each direction, Mondays to Saturdays;

PT/S2B – Reduced level of service, 4 journeys per day in each direction, Mondays to Saturdays.

Proposed end date of new contract: 5.07.03

Contract PT/S 105

A Monday to Saturday peak and off-peak service between Oxford, Little Milton and Chalgrove, providing generally an hourly frequency between Oxford and Great Milton (two hourly to the Haseley’s or Chalgrove)

Stagecoach South Midland has stated they will be de-registering the unsubsidised commercial journeys on this route from the same date. Currently of the twelve journeys provided in each direction (Mondays to Saturdays), six are subsidised under this contract and six are provided commercially

In view of the likely significant increase in costs necessary to provide the existing level of service, I have invited tenders for replacement, both at the present level and at a lower level (with loss of the link to Chalgrove). A further possible option is a combined service with PT/S 120

Other services operate between Oxford and Cowley/Wheatley but this route is the only service via Horspath and Littlemore. South of Wheatley the 103 is the only bus service to Great Milton, the Haseley’s and Little Milton apart from a Tuesdays only Market day bus to/from Thame (route 111). Stadhampton and Chalgrove are also served by route 101 (q.v.) whilst Chalgrove has an infrequent link to Wallingford (Mondays to Fridays) by Thames Travel Taxibus route TB31

Operated by Stagecoach Oxford, service 103.

Prices sought for

PT/S 105A – Existing level of service, hourly service, Mondays to Saturdays;

PT/S 105B – Reduced level of service, two hourly service, Mondays to Saturdays.

PT/S 116 – Option of a combined hourly service, alternate 101/103 routes.

Proposed end date of new contract: 5.07.03

Contract PT/S 120

A Monday to Saturday peak and off-peak service between Oxford, Chalgrove and Watlington, providing generally an hourly frequency, Mondays to Saturdays

Stagecoach South Midland have confirmed that they intend to de-registering the commercial journeys on this route from the same date. Of the twelve journeys currently provided in each direction, approximately five are subsidised under this or related contracts whilst seven journeys run commercially. A late evening journey on Friday and Saturday nights is also subsidised.

In view of the likely significant increase in costs necessary to provide the existing level of service, I have invited tenders for replacement, both at the present level and at a lower level. A further possible option is a combined service with PT/S 105

Other services operate between Oxford and Cowley but this route is the only service to Garsington and Chislehampton. The 103 also presently serves Stadhampton and Chalgrove. whilst the latter also has an infrequent link to Wallingford (Mondays to Fridays) by Thames Travel Taxibus route TB31. Watlington has limited services (Mon-Sat) to Reading and High Wycombe plus market day services to both Thame and Henley; also a Monday to Saturday link to Wallingford provided by Thames Travel Taxibus TB30.

Operated by Stagecoach Oxford, service 101.

Prices sought for

PT/S 105A – Existing level of service, hourly service, Mondays to Saturdays;

PT/S 105B – Reduced level of service, Hourly peaks, two hourly service off –peak, Mondays

PT/S 116 - Option of a combined hourly service, alternate 101/103 route

Proposed end date of new contract: 5.07.03