BUS STATIONS AND DEREGULATION

The 1980 Transport Act was widely expected to allow opportunities for the private sector coach operators to increase their share of an expanded coaching market. Following the initial surge of independents' activity, the market, though increased in size, continues to be dominated by National Express. One factor contributing to National Express success is thought to be their exclusive access to key terminals. This paper explores the extent to which similar factors would apply in the deregulation of local bus services as proposed in the white paper Buses. The paper first describes the extent of provision of bus stations in Britain and their characteristics. It also discloses why bus operators may or may not want to use bus stations and discusses the related issue of costs, capacity, and charges and how these are currently dealt with in practice. Finally the role of bus stations in a deregulated bus market, and the relationship with the provision of on-street stopping places is discussed. In congested town centres there may well be conflicts between the demands of bus operators and the requirements of the highway authority, and in this respect there are useful analogies in the supply and control of parking and the operations of taxis. The paper concludes with a summary of the extent of the likely effect of current bus station arrangements on the aims of the deregulation proposals and what alternatives could be considered. (a) for the covering abstract of the seminar see TRIS 456300.