Banga buses

[Stu]

Subsidised in part by Staffordshire.
https://bustimes.org/registrations/PD1078264/16

Yes, its a contracted TfWM with part funding from Staffordshire county council.

So it is already a subsidised service. I asked the question in order to determine if this was actually true or if it is just some 'scurrilous rumour'.

Besides the quoted date May 15th is a Thursday, which is why I find this questionable!

[adambotee]

This was the post copied off Bilbrook Parish Council:

No 5 Bus Service update

Staffordshire County Council has provided further clarification regarding the current bus service operated by Banga Buses. It has been confirmed that Banga operates this service on a purely commercial basis, without any contractual agreement, tender, or licensing arrangement with the County Council. Consequently, the County Council does not have the legal authority to intervene or provide subsidies in competition with this commercial service.

Specifically, the County Council has stated that Banga is not bound by any contract and therefore, the County Council cannot terminate their service. The continuation of the service is solely at Banga's discretion. This is the same as the previous service operated by National Express, which was discontinued due to its lack of commercial viability.

Having said this, Staffordshire County Council has since confirmed that Banga has submitted the required notice to the Traffic Commissioner, indicating their intention to cease operation of their No 5 service. In response, the County Council has initiated a tender process to secure a replacement service. It is anticipated that this service will operate under a contracted agreement, as no other operators have expressed interest in providing the service commercially.

This means the County Council will be subsiding this bus service. The successful bidder, determined by the most cost-effective proposal, will be awarded the contract. The County Council has specified a timetable that replicates the previous National Express schedule, including a half-hourly frequency and the utilisation of three vehicles to ensure reliability.

Banga's final day of operation is scheduled for May 15th. Due to legal constraints, Staffordshire County Council is unable to intervene before this date. The tender process is currently underway, and the preferred operator is expected to be identified within two weeks, subject to their acceptance of the offer.

The Parish Council would like to thank Staffordshire County Council for their efforts to save this service which is vital to Bilbrook residents.

[2206]

Yes, its a contracted TfWM with part funding from Staffordshire county council.

So it is already a subsidised service. I asked the question in order to determine if this was actually true or if it is just some 'scurrilous rumour'.

Besides the quoted date May 15th is a Thursday, which is why I find this questionable!

Where have you seen it is contracted by TFWM I don't think I've ever seen it on the TFWM tender documents?

I think it means some journeys are tendered by Staffordshire and the rest are commercial.
https://www.tfwm.org.uk/who-we-are/what-we-do/bus-services/bus-tenders/

[Lukeee]

Is there likely to be any change to the chaseriser 5 service or will that continue as it I'd (I believe that is already subsidised by Staffordshire county Council)

[adambotee]

Nothing has been mentioned about the Chaserider 5 so I'd assume it'll stay the same 

[Stu]

Where have you seen it is contracted by TFWM I don't think I've ever seen it on the TFWM tender documents?

Ah, my mistake, I misread what it said on the service registration:
https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/search/find-registered-local-bus-services/details/631619/

This was the post copied off Bilbrook Parish Council:

No 5 Bus Service update

Staffordshire County Council has provided further clarification regarding the current bus service operated by Banga Buses. It has been confirmed that Banga operates this service on a purely commercial basis, without any contractual agreement, tender, or licensing arrangement with the County Council. Consequently, the County Council does not have the legal authority to intervene or provide subsidies in competition with this commercial service.

Thank you for this, it's interesting because it seems to contradict the service registration which states the service is already supported by subsidies.

Either way it seems Banga are facing the same problem as NX did, lack of passengers.

[adambotee]

I use the service regularly and the bus always seems pretty full to be honest. A lot of the passengers are elderly which have the free bus passes so I don't know how Banga would get the money off them. I'm assuming they have to claim the money from South Staffordshire Council?

[Wumpty]

Ah, my mistake, I misread what it said on the service registration:
https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/search/find-registered-local-bus-services/details/631619/

Thank you for this, it's interesting because it seems to contradict the service registration which states the service is already supported by subsidies.

Either way it seems Banga are facing the same problem as NX did, lack of passengers.

Many smaller operators become rescuer-come-victim when they attempt to rescue a service that NX or larger operators cannot operate commercially. It's a great PR stunt, but the reality is it isn't as easy as people think just to bung a bus on a route that the social media brigade deem "vital"

That said, I'm sure they will tender for the service should it become a subsidised service.

[Westy]

Dont really know the area as such, but couldnt it be linked to the Telford service, ie rerouting the 891 off the A41 somehow into Codsall, or will that cause more issues?

[adambotee]

Dont really know the area as such, but couldnt it be linked to the Telford service, ie rerouting the 891 off the A41 somehow into Codsall, or will that cause more issues?

Wouldn't have thought so. Banga are looking to get rid of the service so I can't see them re-routing another one of their routes. Plus I think part of the contract is that it has to run through Whitmore Reans which again I can't see Banga re-routing the 891 to go through there.

Wouldn't surprise me if Chaserider end up having the route completely to themselves to be honest 

[Rachvince53]

Wouldn't have thought so. Banga are looking to get rid of the service so I can't see them re-routing another one of their routes. Plus I think part of the contract is that it has to run through Whitmore Reans which again I can't see Banga re-routing the 891 to go through there.

Wouldn't surprise me if Chaserider end up having the route completely to themselves to be honest

Your wish is going to be granted soon. From 16th May Chaserider will take over the Mon-Sat service from Banga and route it via Evans St and Dunstall Road. Subsidised by Staffs CC the service will run every 30mins. 

[tombzy]

Ah, my mistake, I misread what it said on the service registration:
https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/search/find-registered-local-bus-services/details/631619/

Thank you for this, it's interesting because it seems to contradict the service registration which states the service is already supported by subsidies.

Either way it seems Banga are facing the same problem as NX did, lack of passengers.

I thought the 5 was subsidised on evenings which is why chaserider run them. Is that not the case?

[adambotee]

The evening service by Chaserider are subsidised by the council. The whole route will be subsidised from 16th May. I don't fully understand why Banga are dropping it to be honest - it's normally full whenever I have been on the route. It's normally full of pensioners though so I'm not sure how much money Banga would make from it 

[IMarkeh]

The evening service by Chaserider are subsidised by the council. The whole route will be subsidised from 16th May. I don't fully understand why Banga are dropping it to be honest - it's normally full whenever I have been on the route. It's normally full of pensioners though so I'm not sure how much money Banga would make from it

And this is the reason why Banga are dropping it. Because of extremely poor concessionary reimbursement, any route which is full of pensioners using their passes, generally isn't viable.

According to the Annual Bus Statistics (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/annual-bus-statistics-year-ending-march-2024), in the data tables, table BUS04gi_mi shows that the average cost per mile for a bus is around £4.86 per mile averaged out.

According to the Concessionary Travel Statistics (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/concessionary-travel-statistics-year-ending-march-2024), in the data tables, table BUS08ei shows that the average reimbursement per concessionary pass in Staffordshire was £1.64. 

A single journey on the 5 is just shy of 7 miles so purely based off these stats (Bangas costs/revenues will vary, these are just averages), £34 it costs to run each way. Taking into account the pass reimbursement rate, you need 21 pass holders, per journey to make that viable. That is before you look at any profits which operators need to make, and while some people will be paying fares, with the fare caps, you will still be looking at needing a good few passengers per journey to be worthwhile.

[igogeneral]

Before you say that £1.64 is extremely poor can I suggest you complete the same exercise for the West Midlands where you will find the rate is perhaps 50% lower. And before quoting the journey mileage then I cannot think of any journey in West Midlands that is much shorter