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1. The regional vs. non-regional bus criteria were established by the Regional Mobility Panel in 1997. DC Watch nicely has the basics of that report posted, including the 4 criteria for a route being regional. This explains why some of the routes above are regional, even if within state lines.

2. Transport for London contracts with approximately 26 private companies to provide bus service (though 4-5 companies operate about 80% of the service). Each bus route is contracted out with specific performance criteria, for a five year period. The Quality Incentive Contracts (QIC's) include bonus/malus for performance, especially excess wait time and safety. With private profit affected by performance, operating to schedule is a prime focus and both the private operators and the authority put a lot of effort into monitoring performance (e.g., supervisor and regulator standing side-by-side with devices recording).

3. London's bus system has about 8,000 buses. Approximately 80% of bus service is operated on a headway of 15 minutes or less (and hence no timetable is provided to customers, only a headway range). The buses benefit from a) more historical investment in the Bus Priority Network, the LBPN; b) lighter, more open vehicles, which arguably, in the form of the double-decker, are more pleasing simply because of the "golden ratio", and finally c) wider public and hence political interest in their quality (leading back to a.).

4. Privatisation benefitted London at the expense of the rest of the nation. Bus ridership in the rest of the UK is still often below pre-privatisation levels. With market power, London was able to coerce the private firms into putting their best, newest buses in London, leading to a fleet age of less than 5 years at one point. After five years, the buses are dumped into the rest of the country, where quality has suffered. Likely the Preston report of 2004 is the best academic take on the whole scheme, though there are many others. Bus costs in London are pretty high, even with the returns to scale of density, whilst many overhead costs are absorbed at the TfL or borough level, in ways not seen for Metrobus operation here in DC.

by Eric R. on Jun 27, 2012 5:15 pm • link • report