Turning Point?

Today’s the deadline for Preston’s operators to sign up to some sort of agreement to thwart a public inquiry. If there’s no understanding, they will appear together before the north western traffic commissioner.

How things change. Even a year ago, such a proposition of warring operators in a sponsored discussion would be considered anathema. But Beverley Bell will remember Manchester’s UK North and its repercussions. Though different, a public inquiry into an equally bitter bus war in Preston may be similarly damaging for the industry. It could even be a turning point. Stagecoach no doubt will recognise this fact.

There’s a sense, though, that you can’t have it both ways. Either competition is good for passengers or it isn’t. Either services flourish or the market decides, either at equilibrium or as one operator surfaces. Why is the market operating well in Oxford and Bournemouth when it seemingly isn’t in Preston? Is Stagecoach in Preston purely predatory?

One year in, Omnibuses2.0’s Northern Correspondent looks at how competition in Preston has changed.

I guess like in any conflict, once all parties become used to the situation, life ticks over. So it is in Preston. Competition between the giant Stagecoach and former municipal Preston Bus has settled into more-or-less a tedious routine. Preston Bus is still accusing Stagecoach of dirty tricks but this is denied.

Stagecoach is managing to retain the lion’s share of its Penwortham route. Preston Bus services to Penwortham were a retaliatory move to a large city suburb beyond the Preston boundary. As such Preston Bus didn’t operate there, till the competition.

On the other hand, Preston Bus enjoys a healthier position on those services suddenly under competition from Stagecoach though, here, matters are less clear cut. Often, older passengers with free passes will await a Preston Bus, perhaps through loyalty, while farepayers split themselves between both operators. Stagecoach is generally cheapest.

Stagecoach has retrenched a little (e.g. frequency on the 9 Moor Nook, withdrawal of the 32 to Larches/Savick) but improved some evening and or Sunday services (e.g. Moor Nook, Hospital). Though Preston Bus no longer serves Southport in retaliatory fashion, Stagecoach has spilt the Longridge-Preston-Southport 2s in any case. There remain concerns that one operator or the other loses service from time to time.

The biggest news is that after last operation on 24 May 2008, Preston Bus withdrew another commercial service, the 87 from Preston to Lea via Lane Ends.

Photo: Northern Correspondent