Should Centro Help Pay For Buses?

[hartshill busman 724210]

Hi Folks.
Just following on from the story of the new talking buses on the 222.
My understanding is that a very hefty wedge of ratepayers cash has headed in the direction of NXWM to help pay towards them.Whats the general view from you lot over this happening.I know and share your passion for public transport but should`nt Centros money be spent on infrastructure projects like its doing on the 222 as well as helping market the route through special ticket deals as its also doing, rather than paying out on the Hardware?Will they also be as open with the Cheque book with other operators trying to comply with the new Brierley Hill plan?Remember this is ratepayers money they`re splashing around.Our money! Support the network, do publicity, fund special offers to get people on the buses, yes!great news for all operators as this will lead to increased income so they can pay for the bus improvements themselves.Thoughts?

[PM]

Well at least here in the WM our pte isnt wasting money planning new trolleybuses etc like in leeds etc or wasting money in order to convince people that reregulation is a benefit. Centro should spend money on getting the fundamentals right first-good bus shelters-incidentally the new ones in town are sh*t-and not wasting it on buses that can speak which have no obvious purpose. Im not being funny but unless you are blind or do not know the area then these are entirely useless and just irritate the everyday traveller. What a complete waste of money-we've seen it all before, rebrands, real time which then they fail to update it so the investment goes down the pan. So, come on, centro, if you are going to survive, get the basics right first, don't cosy up to much to national express and ensure that your tendered bus routes arent being operated by dodgy sex offenders. So, overall I think centro have too much money as it is-we dont need talking buses and sending money to national express when they are a huge multinational who can well afford to customise their own buses for the benefit of their customers, if they feel there is a real need.

[Ash]

They helped to improve services in the Black Country with diamond back in 2008/9. Now in 2013 is like going back in time on these services to when Pete's Travel operated them using the same vehicle type but Pete's Travel used X an W reg buses on these services slightly newer than the S/T reg darts that get used now.

http://www.networkwestmidlands.com/partnership/Diamond_Buses.aspx

[richie]

I don't agree fully with tax payers money going towards the cost of new buses for the 222 but how much longer would the route have waited for an upgrade without that money? When the B6's were brand new on the 222 they carried Dudley Council branding so maybe the last lot of vehicles were part funded by tax payers money?

[PM]

The thing is tho in the diamond example, what exactly did centro DO??!! Diamond bought the buses

[Ash]

The thing is tho in the diamond example, what exactly did centro DO??!! Diamond bought the buses

There was a partnership with Centro over the upgrade but not sure what Centro's part was but apparently diamond brought 33 new buses then for their service and now they can't seem to invest in one new bus so funding must have come from somewhere but not sure Centro contributed to it.

[Tony]

Hi Folks.
Just following on from the story of the new talking buses on the 222.
My understanding is that a very hefty wedge of ratepayers cash has headed in the direction of NXWM to help pay towards them.Whats the general view from you lot over this happening.I know and share your passion for public transport but should`nt Centros money be spent on infrastructure projects like its doing on the 222 as well as helping market the route through special ticket deals as its also doing, rather than paying out on the Hardware?Will they also be as open with the Cheque book with other operators trying to comply with the new Brierley Hill plan?Remember this is ratepayers money they`re splashing around.Our money! Support the network, do publicity, fund special offers to get people on the buses, yes!great news for all operators as this will lead to increased income so they can pay for the bus improvements themselves.Thoughts?

I think you are misinformed on that one. The buses are purchased solely by the bus company Centro's money does only go on infrastructure improvements

[Bob]

At least theyve invested in shelters etc and info, Staffordshire are awful, some of the bus shelters must date back to the 70s/80s! ( look at rugeley/lichfield bus stations and some of the ones in cannock area, the one opposite the cinema on the a34 in cannock has trees growing into it!!)

[hartshill busman 724210]

With respect tony not what it says on the press release.......These new vehicles mark the start of a larger £10million investment programme between National Express West Midlands and Centro.

And not to confuse with As well as the new buses, Centro, the region's transport authority, is installing new shelters and more Real Time Information displays along the route.

The work is being funded from a £10million scheme to improve bus service across the Black Country. Around £5million of that is coming from the Government's Better Bus Area Fund, with £1.5million from Centro, £1.5million from Westfield, owners of the Merry Hill shopping centre and a further £2million from bus operators
The latter is primarily to do with improvements into and out of Merry Hill on the approach corridors

[Tony]

With respect tony not what it says on the press release.......These new vehicles mark the start of a larger £10million investment programme between National Express West Midlands and Centro.

And not to confuse with As well as the new buses, Centro, the region's transport authority, is installing new shelters and more Real Time Information displays along the route.

The work is being funded from a £10million scheme to improve bus service across the Black Country. Around £5million of that is coming from the Government's Better Bus Area Fund, with £1.5million from Centro, £1.5million from Westfield, owners of the Merry Hill shopping centre and a further £2million from bus operators
The latter is primarily to do with improvements into and out of Merry Hill on the approach corridors

Depends how you read that. Ten million pounds is being spent to improve bus services. Two million of the ten million is coming from bus operators. These 8 new buses come out of the two million pounds from bus operators. Centro may contribute towards some equipment on buses for example bus stop announcement equipment, but not the vehicles themselves

[hartshill busman 724210]

These 8 buses total £1.5m pounds worth of investment according to press release.so 500 k for all the other routes and operators around Merry hill,It has to be different money because the sums do`nt add up.As part of signing up for the Brierley hill bus scheme reinvestment is expected by all signees. Routes such as X96 226 255 and the new routes from Sandwell and Brum are all expected to be upgraded in a similar style by Centro.

[Tony]

These 8 buses total £1.5m pounds worth of investment according to press release.so 500 k for all the other routes and operators around Merry hill,It has to be different money because the sums do`nt add up.As part of signing up for the Brierley hill bus scheme reinvestment is expected by all signees. Routes such as X96 226 255 and the new routes from Sandwell and Brum are all expected to be upgraded in a similar style by Centro.

Neither do the costs quoted for the new buses. I could go to a dealer and buy one brand new Enviro 200 same spec as NXWMs for £116,000, eight of those comes to less than £1million. NXWM buying 30 direct from manufacturer is unlikely to be paying anywhere near the full £116,000 so I reckon the cost of new buses for the 222 route is just over half of the £1.5 million quoted!