First Manchester

[Brickmill]

RE: First Manchester

(12/02/2019 00:35)gilesbus1 Wrote:  Of course many people liked Greater Manchester Transport because it was a structured operator that was accountable and transport as interchangeable and linked and fares were much lower, but tax costs were high, but in those days that was just accepted as the public knew nothing else, but now I doubt it would be acceptable to those who do not use the services provided which is the majority. Franchising is being selected as its the nearest that can be got to it at a cost effective price, e.g not owning the infrastructure (vehicles and depots) but controlling the structure through regulation.

I'm not so sure the public knew "nothing else", I think its more that domestic politics have changed since 1979....and very much for the worse. Call me naive (it was the late 70s) but in Economics and Politics, I was taught that Britain was a "mixed Economy", whereby any industry which provided something that was NOT needed, but was generally affordable to all as at least an occasional treat, was privately run with no public financing. Anything, that was/is needed, the NHS, Emergency Services, Clean Water, Domestic Fuel and, yes, basic forms of public transport, were provided wholly or partly through taxation. This had a tendency for the "rich" to subsidise the "poor". In terms of buses, this could realistically mean subsidising your friend/relation/neighbour's bus journey to work, which in turn left said acquaintance with disposable income to take an active part in the economy and society.....and slow the growth of traffic congestion at the same time,
However, we are now in different times, with the country run by the most (geographically) centralist Whitehall for many a century and the strongest, most powerful Media machine in history. This results in deep prejudices (and not just the headline ones), gross generalisations and demonisation of people who don't conform to 21st century Ideals. In other words, today's middle class/income loudmouths don't have the power of independant thought and if some billionaire Media icon tells them the poor/ill or indeed, carless should be despised, they don't question it. To them, taxes are to subsidise the Rich, the Powerful and the Conformist. They aren't intellegent enough to recognise that roughly half a million Carless Adult taxpayers in Greater Manchester, even exist, so they can hardly evaluate the effects of those half a million having better access to jobs, medical facilities, healthy(er) food, wider socially circles etc etc. All of which reduce poor health, generally poverty/debt and I would wager Crime. Oh! And I nearly forgot.............Congestion.

This might seem like blatant (if not exactly BBC2-style hypocracy) politicking, but it is relevant to the problems (largely self inflicted) facing First and other bus companies.

Finally, minor correction/clarification for giles; Franchising has NOT yet been selected. Three major options are being - or, I dare say *have been* - evaluated, to be presented via GMCA to the Elected Mayor. These are;

1. Continued Deregulation, but greater use of 2017 Powers to integrate Fares and other minor improvements.

2. Enhanced Quality Partnerships; You know how Trump wants to build a wall to keep Mexicans out AND charge them for the privelige? Well, for Mexico, think eastern Greater Manchester and you get the idea of an) EQP. Stagecoach's Media Release from some months ago, doesn't exactly disguise this - even if their detailed plans are now scuppered by getting financing for barely a third of the the e-buses they wanted,

3. Franchising; GMCA control over Routes, Fares, service levels, vehicle quality and probably livery etc. This would be similar to the London model, but based more on re-balancing services according to genuine, established need than on throwing money at everything. It will be let on a mix of large network based contracts and smaller town/area based ones, thus ensuring Operators of all sizes will have the oppurtunity to bid for Franchises.

A Public Consultation is still expected to take place later this year, before a final decision is made. According to the MEN, this will now be "the end of the year".