Re: Bus Privatization

[Malcolm Miles <mgm-ns@tardis.net>]

David McLoughlin <davemclNOSPAM@iprolink.co.nz> wrote:

>Melbourne's buses are mostly cross-suburban routes and feeders to train
>stations and tram lines. The vast majority of street transport routes
>entering the CBD are trams (streetcars) and there is also a major
>electric train system which brings almost as many people to the CBD as
>the trams.

Many of the National Bus routes are direct to the city and don't feed
any train stations or tram lines. For example, the Eastern Freeway
services.

>No such improvements seem to have been mandated for Melbourne's bus
>operators.

The buses don't seem to have to fully participate in the Metcard
system (no validators on Nat. buses), there is no automatic monitoring
of bus punctuality (times are provided by the operators themselves)
and no financial penalities for poor performance. There also doesn't
seem to be any requirement for maintaining service frequency.

-- 
Best wishes,
Malcolm