Wycombe bus users give views after franchising calls

Under the model, which has also been introduced in Manchester, private companies continue to own buses and bid for contracts to run them, while the routes, timetables, fares and standards are dictated by local authorities.

Many council bus companies became privatised after the bus market in England was deregulated by then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1986.

But earlier this month, the Department for Transport pledged nearly £1 billion to help bring London-style bus services ‘to every corner of the country’ to improve their frequency and reliability.

But what do people in Wycombe think?

George Jack, who was waiting in Wycombe’s bus station for the arrival of his friend Michael North, said cancelled services previously meant they had been forced to cancel their plans.

He told the Bucks Free Press: “They have been a bit unreliable.

“One time he was supposed to come, and we were supposed to do something, but we abandoned it altogether because the bus didn’t turn up from Marlow to come here.”

The resident, who is not a frequent bus user, was soon joined by Michael, who arrived on time from Marlow on the 850, one of the services Carousel took over from Arriva in the summer of this year.

Michael said: “It is the first time I have been on this new one. Arriva was rubbish by the end. But he was five minutes early this guy.”

The passenger said Arriva’s buses ‘felt like they were steam driven with coal’ by the time several routes were withdrawn from Wycombe and Aylesbury.

Asked if he would favour a franchised model, Michael said: “That would be good. With competition, there is a more short-termism mindset, squeezing as much money out as possible.”

George said he would ‘have to look into it more’ due to him not being a frequent bus user.

The idea of introducing bus franchising in Buckinghamshire has been pushed by Green councillor Greg Smith who told a council meeting this month the model resulted in ‘greater satisfaction’ for users, ‘greater use’ of services, ‘better accountability’ and a ‘more integrated’ transport network.

Cabinet member for transport Steven Broadbent said the council would look into franchising but that the model may not be right for Bucks as it would mean the council acquiring depots, maintaining vehicles and would bring extra ‘challenges and costs’.

Some bus users in Wycombe also remain unconvinced, including Margaret Thompson who was was ‘unsure’ about a franchised model.

The resident, who comes into Wycombe from Princes Risborough, said she found the bus services ‘very good’.

Ahsan Pervaiz, who has lived in High Wycombe for six months, uses the 103 and 74 services to get to Slough a couple of times a week and generally finds the buses to be reliable.

He said: “This time it was late for the first time. I have been waiting. But otherwise, it has been good. My experience is ok.”

David Putman, who relies on the 31 bus to get him from Wycombe back up to his home in between Hazlemere and Tylers Green, said he generally had a positive experience.

He said: “It is not very regular. Sometimes it doesn’t turn up. I was on one and I pressed the button to stop the bus, and it carried on.”

But asked if there could be any improvements made to bus services, he added: “Normally they are fine to be quite honest.”

Another resident, who did not want to give his name, said he was pleased with the 36 service from Wycombe to Bourne End and he ‘did not have any problems’ with the buses.

Luke Marion, Carousel Buses’ managing director told the Free Press bus franchising was a ‘positive solution’ for some areas but was expensive to implement and therefore best suited to dense urban areas, where buses could be integrated with other types of transport.

He added: “Buckinghamshire has undergone extensive improvements to its bus network recently, with Carousel Buses investing £2.5 million to save and enhance routes after Arriva closed its local depots.

“Further significant investments and improvements are planned, but such investments would not be financially sensible for operators to make if the council was to seek to introduce franchising in the area.”

Arriva has been approached for comment.