FRENZY: BUT WILL IT DERAIL?

This article discusses how far motorists will be persuaded to use rail feeder buses, which play a central part in the UK Government's plans for integrated transport. Its author considers that experience in South Wales reveals a need for greater commitment, patience, and support for the concept. South Wales has done more than many other parts of the UK to try to link buses and trains to provide a seamless public transport service. Most of the Welsh rail feeder services, which the author examined in 1995, and several that were introduced later, have now disappeared. Nevertheless, there has been an explosion in the number of rail feeder bus services around the UK, and Stagecoach is planning many more. However, there is evidence that operators treat bus links as a low-cost option, and that they really need to invest more resources to ensure their success. For example, a short-lived feeder established by Cardiff Railway quickly failed because it used only one bus instead of two. The feeder service between Cardiff Airport and Cardiff station, begun in September 1996, had reliable service and used modern buses, but still failed for lack of demand. The article also discusses the benefits and pitfalls of more adaptable dedicated feeder bus services, and presents the case for running feeder buses as loss leaders.