The bus industry in Scotland
Who operates bus services?
Contrary to what a lot of people think, SPT no longer owns or operates buses in Strathclyde.
The bus industry was de-regulated in 1986. Essentially anyone with a bus and a public service vehicle licence can set up as a bus operator. All they need to do is register the route they want to operate with the Traffic Commissioner. There are about 100 different bus operators running services within the Strathclyde area.
Who regulates the bus industry?
There are eight Traffic Commissioners for the UK - one of whom deals with Scotland - who are appointed by the Department for Transport.
It is up to the Traffic Commissioner to deal with complaints about bus operators, their services and their drivers.
Commercial bus services
Commercial bus operators make their own decisions regarding where, when and how they run their services. They also set their own fares.
Complaints regarding commercial bus services should be directed in the first instance to the operator concerned.
If the complaint is not answered to your satisfaction, it may be directed to Bus Passengers’ Platform (BPP). The contact details are:
Bus Passengers' Platform, Transport Directorate, 2-D Dockside, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ.
Telephone: 0131 244 1709 or 0131 244 5306
Email: admin@ptucscotland.gov.uk
Further details can be found at : http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Transport/ptuc
A third option is to contact the Traffic Commissioner by writing to the Clerk to the Traffic Commissioner, Scottish Traffic Area, J Floor, Argyle House, 3 Lady Lawson Street, Edinburgh EH3 9SE.
Telephone: 0131 200 4927 or 0870 606 0440 (Bus Registration Enquiries)
Web:
http://www.vosa.gov.uk
The Traffic Area Office is open for public business from:
Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5.00pm / Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm
Subsidised bus services
One of the biggest problems with the de-regulated market is that private bus operators can withdraw or change services simply by giving the Traffic Commissioner appropriate notice that this is what they are going to do. Often this can leave rural towns and villages without any public transport at all or without evening or weekend services.
In cases like these, SPT can step in to subsidise bus services that are regarded as "socially necessary" where it wouldn't pay a private operator to run them.
SPT's funds are limited and we have to look carefully at the number of passengers who are likely to use a service, the cost per passenger carried and whether or not there are other public transport options available before we decide to provide a subsidised bus service.
Where SPT subsidises a bus service the vehicle will probably be in our livery and will be a modern, low-floor bus to make it easier for elderly people, disabled people and people with buggies and prams to get on and off.
In rural parts of Strathclyde, SPT provides demand-responsive Ring'n'Ride services for people and communities who do not have a local bus service or have poor public transport links to amenities.
SPT also provides Dial-a-Bus services for elderly and disabled people who are unable to use or have difficulty in using ordinary buses.
If you have any complaints about subsidised bus services, please contact the Director of Bus Operations, Consort House, 12 West George Street, Glasgow, G2 1HN
or email bus@spt.co.uk
School Buses
SPT manages the school bus contracts for 11 of the 12 Councils that make up the SPT area (the exception being Argyll & Bute).
We ensure that Disclosure Scotland checks are made on each driver, and carry out inspections to ensure that the vehicles being used are safe and properly maintained.
SPT's customer care inspectors check that the quality of the service meets the standards agreed with the operator as part of the contract specification.
If we find that drivers are being used who aren't approved, or that there are problems with a particular vehicle, we take the matter up with the contractor and the relevant authority.
In monitoring school contracts, SPT works very closely with Strathclyde Police, the Traffic Commissioner and the Department for Transport.