A lot of the TOCs were already under national control. But the problem is with the system in general; its just broken. You cite ticket pricing as one insanity, but I also hate how poorly connected buses, and trains are. I wish we had a unified ticketing system so I could get a monthly pass to cover both train, and bus.
For example, I’m lucky I can get a direct bus to work. But if I didn’t, I’d have to get a bus to the train station, then to train to a town close to work, then another bus. Now I have to pay for a train season ticket (which costs an absolute fortune), and a monthly bus pass.
Or I could get a car. I’m very reluctant too but public transport is so broken in the UK that I often think it would be so much easier.
The interconnection between the modes of transport is another great point. At least starting with having train transfers be more coordinated (since they wouldn’t be run by different companies) is a good start.
Unsure how coordinating all the different privat bus networks would go but definitely something the government should prioritise too. If the system can actually work then hopefully that means we can get people out of cars.
Unsure how coordinating all the different privat bus networks would go but definitely something the government should prioritise too.
Yeah having multiple private bus networks is an issue even without transferring from a train. I heard from a colleague from Manchester that before nationalisation, sometimes you’d have to buy two separate bus passes if your commute involved two separate bus companies. Now the system there is so much more simplified.
A lot of the TOCs were already under national control. But the problem is with the system in general; its just broken. You cite ticket pricing as one insanity, but I also hate how poorly connected buses, and trains are. I wish we had a unified ticketing system so I could get a monthly pass to cover both train, and bus.
For example, I’m lucky I can get a direct bus to work. But if I didn’t, I’d have to get a bus to the train station, then to train to a town close to work, then another bus. Now I have to pay for a train season ticket (which costs an absolute fortune), and a monthly bus pass.
Or I could get a car. I’m very reluctant too but public transport is so broken in the UK that I often think it would be so much easier.
The interconnection between the modes of transport is another great point. At least starting with having train transfers be more coordinated (since they wouldn’t be run by different companies) is a good start.
Unsure how coordinating all the different privat bus networks would go but definitely something the government should prioritise too. If the system can actually work then hopefully that means we can get people out of cars.
Yeah having multiple private bus networks is an issue even without transferring from a train. I heard from a colleague from Manchester that before nationalisation, sometimes you’d have to buy two separate bus passes if your commute involved two separate bus companies. Now the system there is so much more simplified.
Can confirm your point on Manchester busses in the past. Woohoo much better now with the bee network