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Memorandum from National
Express
Transport in the South West
Introduction
National Express operates an extensive coach network throughout the South West, serving several million passengers each year. We therefore welcome the opportunity to contribute to the Committee's inquiry into transport in the South West and to highlight the important role that coach transport has to play in addressing the region's transport needs.
Coach services represent the most environmentally efficient form of public transport available and provide a flexible and value for money transport service for the public. As such they have a major contribution to make to environmentally sustainable transport provision in the South West.
Background
National Express UK is one of the
Our national coach network covers over fifty million miles every year and the South West is a key part of that network. We operate out of a number of major locations in the region, including:
· Bristol · Bournemouth · Cheltenham · Exeter · Plymouth · Bath · Swindon · Gloucester · Taunton · Torbay · Cirencester · Poole · Newquay
National Express employs around five hundred staff throughout the South West with most services being operationally based in the areas which they serve. All National Express services in the South West are commercially operated.
Coach transport is the most environmentally efficient mode of travel with an average CO2 emission per passenger kilometre of only 30 grams. It also makes a major contribution to reducing congestion; based on average loads one coach can remove one mile of car traffic from a motorway.
Coach fares offer value for money, with a
range of fare types on offer, some as low as £1 for journeys booked in advance.
National Express also offers, in conjunction with the Department for Transport,
a half fare scheme for the over 60s and disabled to travel anywhere within the
We operate a modern coach fleet with an average age of between three and four years. A large and growing proportion of the fleet is now fully wheelchair accessible. It is our intention that our entire fleet will offer these facilities by 2012.
Our customers are of all age ranges and from all socio-economic groups. The value for money that coach travel offers ensures that it is accessible to a wide range of society .
Executive Summary
· The South West's roads network is good through most parts of the region for the main areas · Some pinch points on the road network need addressing, especially those areas most effected by peak holiday periods · The region has a good scheduled coach network which can easily be adjusted to meet changing needs · Coach services offer quality links to Heathrow · Better use of the current roads network is preferable to extensive road building · Priority on the roads network should be given to modes which move the most people · More integration between local and long distance modes required · Local and regional transport departments should take the lead in enhancing integration · Parkway solutions for coach services should be developed · Recognition needed that more than just technology is required to meet environmental targets · Greater simplicity in the transport planning process is required to deliver actions · GOSW is one of the best regional offices · National Express wish to work with all levels of government but frequently find it hard to engage
Detailed responses from National Express
Our full answers are shown below and are numbered in line with the Committee's questions. We have concentrated on road based public transport and, in particular, scheduled express coach services. National Express is the major provider of these in the South West with a number provided by other companies.
1 - Is Transport Provision in the South West adequate to meet the demands placed upon the region
1.1 The major cities and towns have good
transport links yet clearly there are challenges in the more rural areas. In
addition the region also has a number of the
1.2 National Express provides frequent
services from all the main centres in the South West to both
1.3 We
also offer services to several of the less populated areas throughout the
region including a range of routes through
1.4 However, there are many locations which cannot be served effectively as they are either too remote or have insufficient population to make them viable for a commercial operation. To make services attractive for people to use they must be as direct as possible and offer attractive journey times and fares.
1.5 We offer connections to other points not served directly by coach services through arrangements with local bus operators but these are limited by the range of local services in those areas. These services can be pre-booked through our ticket system.
1.6 In
the South West there are a number of challenges on the road system including pinch
points which cause acute problems at key times. Year round, the worst traffic issues
are in the
1.7 Although
there are no areas that are not served due to lack of adequate roads, the
nature of many of the roads available in the direction of
1.8 Despite
concerns which are sometimes expressed about lack of public transport services
to
1.9 Overall we believe that the transport provision for the Region is adequate for the major areas but could be improved in the less populated areas which would enable greater accessibility for the whole population of the South West.
2 - What the priorities should be for improvement
2.1 Coach services are highly flexible and can be easily adjusted in response to customer and transport demands, but require to be fully recognised in regional and local transport plans. The coach and bus network cannot operate in isolation from the transport infrastructure on which they have to run. Therefore decisions about road capacity and priority have a critical impact on the attractiveness and viability of services for customers.
2.2 We do not believe that there is a need for widespread road building but that greater use must be made of the existing system, especially now that funding is likely to be reduced. Instead, we believe that the road network needs to give preference to modes of transport which move the most people rather the most vehicles. Priority measures may include hard shoulder running and Active Traffic Management.
2.3 Some limited road improvements are required to deal with key pinch points which will assist in the delivery of good public transport services.
2.4 Commercial coach services are currently unlikely to address some of the needs of the lower density population areas. We suggest two ways in which this could be addressed:- a) Transport departments to review all local bus services in rural areas and determine how they could better connect with coach routes. b) Funding for new connecting bus services through Local Transport Plan. These could also link with rail services and other key bus routes and open up areas currently poorly served for connections.
2.5 Both solutions would need certainty built in for customers if they are to be attractive for the public to use. National Express would make connecting bus services available to book on our reservation system which is available worldwide through our website.
2.6 There is a need for Parkway solutions to be developed around motorway junctions which would enable more services to serve wider areas. These could be part of a local Park and Ride scheme.
2.7 National Express believes that improvements have to be based on what will offer the greatest benefits for the majority of the population and assist with meeting carbon reduction targets
3 - How these priorities should be reflected in the upcoming Regional Transport Strategy
3.1 There must be an emphasis on the need to meet environmental targets by prioritising the most environmental efficient modes of transport.
3.2 There needs to be a focus on improving existing infrastructure rather than building new.
3.3 Integration of local, regional and national transport networks.
3.4 We think that there is a need to innovate with new connecting services funded through the RTS. This will only be achieved with a regional lead making this happen through partnership as one company cannot do this in isolation.
4 - What the costs of these improvements would be and whether the region can afford them
4.1 We have outlined an approach to improving transport in the South West rather than specific schemes. Consequently it is not possible to quantify in financial terms. However we believe that the investment required would offer greater value than extensive new road building and provide a number of benefits to the regional economy.
4.2 A balance needs to be struck between capital and revenue funding. Often grants are available for the former and not the latter. Enhancing road based public transport, particularly in less populated areas, will require a sustained commitment to revenue funding.
5 - Whether the current arrangements for prioritising, approving and funding infrastructure projects are effective and appropriate
5.1 We have not been part of this process and therefore are unable to comment.
6 - Whether the region is doing enough to promote environmentally friendly transport
6.1 No. We believe that much greater emphasis needs to be placed on using existing environmentally friendly modes of transport rather than focussing on unproven future technology. However, this is not a criticism that is unique to the South West but of regional and national government more generally. Technology has a vital role to play but will not alone enable carbon targets to be met.
6.2 We recommend placing greater emphasis on sustainable modes, such as coach travel, in regional planning.
7 - The role and effectiveness of regional bodies, such as the Regional Development Agency and South West Councils, in identifying and addressing transport issues
7.1 We believe that there is an important role for the Region in identifying transport priorities. However uncertainties about regional structures and overlapping functions can make it difficult for transport providers to engage in this process.
8 - The role and effectiveness of the Government Office for the South West in delivering national transport policy within the region
8.1 As
a national company, with operations throughout the
8.2 We attribute this to two factors. First, it is the staff employed by GOSW on transport matters and, secondly, their use of seconded staff from other organisations who have a practical view of what needs to be done to implement policy in practice.
8.3 In some matters the GOSW have very much been leaders at a national level in getting satisfactory processes implemented.
9 The ability of the Government to influence private sector transport providers
9.1 As a private transport provider we want to work with all levels of government and passionately believe that effective partnership working is critical to delivering beneficial outcomes for transport users.
9.2 As we do not control the infrastructure on which our services operate, National Express advocate the need for constructive working partnerships. Customers rightly demand reliable services operated to a high standard. We can control the quality elements but not road conditions.
9.3 National Express wish to work with government at all levels and are prepared to invest whatever time is required to achieve results which benefit transport users. As part of this, we believe that working in partnership with all interested parties is essential.
SW Select Committee 16 July 2009 |