ITEM EX22E
EXECUTIVE
- 11 DECEMBER 2001
BUS SUBSIDIES
Report by
Director of Environmental Services
ANNEX 2
INFORMATION
ON SERVICES
SECTION
F - COMMERCIAL WITHDRAWALS OF BUS SERVICES
Contract PT/3
Stagecoach
South Midlands withdrew their commercial service between Banbury and Bretch
Hill on Friday and Saturday evenings after operation on 11 August 2001.
They continue to operate a daytime commercial service between these points
on Monday to Saturdays. Cheney Coaches hold a contract (PT/C2) for subsidised
operation between Banbury and Bretch Hill on Monday to Thursday evenings,
and all day on Sundays, which is not due for renewal at this time. I agreed
with Stagecoach South Midlands for them to continue their Friday and Saturday
evening service with subsidy, initially until October 2001 but the company
has now agreed to continue until February 2002.
Service
Description
A
Friday and Saturday evening circular service between Banbury town centre,
Broughton Road and Bretch Hill, with two buses an hour generally working
alternately clockwise (B5) and anti-clockwise (B3).
Operated
by Stagecoach South Midlands, services B3/B5
Current
subsidy See Confidential Annex 3
Average
passengers per day 110
Cost/passenger
journey See Confidential Annex 3
Local
councils served Banbury Town Council has written
supporting continuation
Prices
sought for Continuation of existing service
(to conform with timetable operated on Mondays to
Thursdays)
Proposed
end date of new contract: 2.07.05
Contract
PT/C5
Stagecoach
South Midlands withdrew their commercial early morning journey from Steeple
Aston and Deddington (Market Place) to Banbury after operation on 11 August
2001. (This journey had been supported previously by the Council under
subsidy contract PT/C123, using RBSG funding, from 1 November 1998 until
7 April 2001, after which the company declared it commercial). This withdrawal
was in the context of a general revision of the timetable of service X59,
which has otherwise been entirely commercial. Under the company’s proposals,
Steeple Aston would have lost its early morning service altogether, and
Deddington would have been served in the early morning only from the main
road, not from the Market Place. I agreed with Stagecoach South Midlands
for them to continue the early morning journey from Steeple Aston with
subsidy, initially until October 2001 but the company has now agreed to
continue until February 2002.
Proposed
end date of new contract: 2.07.05
Service
Description
An
early morning journey from Steeple Aston and Deddington Market Place to
Banbury on Mondays to Saturdays.
Operated
by Stagecoach South Midlands, service X59 (part).
Current
subsidy See Confidential Annex 3
Average
passengers per day 7 from Steeple Aston and
Deddington Market Place (who would have no alternative
facilities). 12 from Adderbury and Bloxham (who would
continue to be served by the proposed commercial journey).
Cost/passenger
journey See Confidential Annex 3
Local
councils served 4.
Prices
sought for Continuation of existing service.
Proposed
end date of new contract: 2.07.05
Contract
PT/C9
Stagecoach
Midland Red withdrew their service via Sinclair Avenue, Austin Drive,
Riley Drive, Daimler Avenue and Longelandes Way in Banbury after operation
on 11 August 2001 as part of a revision to their commercial service B8,
which had formerly called in this area en route to Hardwick (Sussex Drive).
Following representations from Members and from the travelling public,
I eventually succeeded in reaching a short-term agreement with Cheney
Coaches to continue to link these roads to Banbury town centre on Mondays
to Saturdays. This was the only proposition received in response to a
wide-ranging invitation.
Service
Description
A
Monday to Saturday circular service from Banbury town centre to the roads
named above in the Ruscote Estate. The service runs at generally half-hourly
intervals, with breaks to allow for statutory drivers’ rest periods and
(on schooldays only) for school bus operations in the morning and afternoon.
Other
services continue to operate in the area. However, certain parts of the
Ruscote Estate are up to 700 metres walking distance from the nearest
available stop on any other service.
Operated
by Cheney Coaches, service B9.
Current
subsidy See Confidential Annex 3
Average
passengers per day 226
Cost/passenger
journey See Confidential Annex 3
Local
councils served Banbury Town Council has written
supporting continuation
Prices
sought for
PT/C9A
– Longer operating day, existing frequency, continuous service with no
breaks
(higher
level of service);
PT/C9B
– Existing operating day, existing frequency, breaks in service permitted
(existing
level
of service);
PT/C9C
– Existing operating day, reduction to hourly frequency, breaks in service
permitted
(lower
level of service).
Proposed
end date of new contract: 2.07.05
Contract
PT/C17
Stagecoach
South Midlands withdrew their commercial services B1/B2 after operation
on 11 August 2001. I entered into a short-term replacement contract with
Grayline Coaches to provide a service in similar timings, but with two
journeys during the day omitted for drivers’ break purposes. This was
the only proposition received for replacement of these services.
Service
Description
A
circular service linking Banbury town centre, Horton Hospital, Easington,
Cherwell Heights and Bankside, with alternate clockwise and anti-clockwise
journeys, on Mondays to Saturdays.
Operated
by Grayline Coaches, services B1/B2
Current
subsidy See Confidential Annex 3
Average
passengers per day 361
Cost/passenger
journey See Confidential Annex 3
Local
councils served Banbury Town Council has written
supporting continuation
Prices
sought for
PT/C17A
– Continuous service of two buses per hour throughout day (enhanced service);
PT/C17B
– Two buses per hour throughout day with two breaks in service permitted
(present level of service);
PT/C17C
– One bus per hour throughout day (reduced level of service).
Proposed
end date of new contract: 2.07.05
Contract
PT/O 1
Stagecoach
Oxford withdrew their commercial service on the Oxford ‘City Circle’ service
10/10A/10B in evenings and Sundays after operation on 4 August 2001. This
was part of a general reorganisation of this service to improve the reliability
of the daytime operation. I entered into a short-term replacement contract
with Chiltern Queens Ltd to provide a service bout on a reduced frequency
to that operated by Stagecoach both during the evenings and on Sundays.
This was the only proposition received for replacement of these services.
Service
Description
A
circular service operating in both directions linking Oxford Railway Station,
City Centre, J.R. Hospital, Headington, Cowley and the City with generally
with an hourly frequency in each direction (Mondays to Saturday evenings
and Sundays all day)
Operated
by Chiltern Queens services 10C/10D
Current
subsidy See Confidential Annex 3
Average
passengers per day N/A eves, Suns 847
Cost/passenger
journey See Confidential Annex 3
Local
councils served Oxford City Council
Prices
sought for
PT/O
1 – Existing level of service
Proposed
end date of new contract: 6.07.02
Contract
PT/S 80
Thames
Travel de-registered the provision of two evening journeys in each direction
on their commercial service between Oxford, Wallingford and Henley (route
X39) over the section between Wallingford and Henley from 3 September
2001. I agreed with Thames Travel to continue these journeys with subsidy
until February 2002. The company has now submitted a ‘de minimis’ bid
to continue these journeys until October 2002.
Service
Description
Two
Monday to Saturdays evening journeys in each direction between Wallingford
and Henley.
Operated
by Thames Travel (services X39)
Current
subsidy See Confidential Annex 3
Average
passengers per day 23.9
Cost/passenger
journey See Confidential Annex 3
Local
councils served 6
Prices
sought for Continuation of existing service.
Proposed
end date of new contract: 26.10.02
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