Walker – PASSENGER INFORMATION IN THE DEREGULATED BUS INDUSTRY 1992

Description

This dissertation assesses bus passenger information provision after the October 1986 deregulation of local services in Great Britain (outside London). Deregulation, intended to revive patronage through market forces, produced intense on-road competition, frequent operator/route/timetable changes (with short notice) and overall instability. Pre-deregulation coordination that ensured comprehensive, stable information was curtailed, making provision optional and inconsistent; operators often refused to publicize competitors and printed/electronic information rapidly became out of date. Using a literature review, national local-authority survey and a Merthyr Tydfil case study (including a Trefechan estate household survey), the study finds information quantity has not universally fallen but its currency, accuracy and reliability are uneven. No national standard exists for bus-stop information and only about a quarter of authorities keep information always up to date. Causes include staff/budget shortages, short operator notice and frequent changes. Real-time technology shows potential but is harder to implement post-deregulation. Recommended measures include more resources, longer registration periods or set change days, and further research.