The Oxford Solution

Is there a hint of treachery in Stagecoach & Go Ahead’s proposals to relinquish their right to compete against each other? Are they setting a dangerous precedent that flies in the face of operators’ recent affirmations that the free market should be retained at all costs?

Or are Stagecoach and Go Ahead adapting their philosophy in the light of a greater threat? Is there a recognition that there’s more to gain by co-operation than competition? Is this simple expediency?

I’m referring to the Oxford Solution.

Readers may recall that in February, A Cumbrian reported on threats to Oxford city centre bus running, with moves to clear buses out of the main city streets and even the possibility that some passengers may have to change buses on to a shuttle just outside the city area to reach their final destination.

This is because Oxfordshire council wishes to reduce the number of buses in parts of the city centre (and ultimately rid some streets of buses altogether). With 44 per cent of arrivals said to be by bus (presumably including park & ride), this could be disastrous for both the city centre and operators. So it is that Stagecoach and Go Ahead’s Oxford Bus Company are proposing counter measures, because buses simply cannot be brushed under the tarmac.

The joint counter measures take advantage of the Local Transport Act 2008 and are in essence a statutory quality partnership, to reduce the number of buses by co-operating & co-ordinating with each other and in accepting each other’s tickets. Both operators argue that two competing 10-minute services could, for example, be reduced to a joint service at every 7½ minutes, thereby reducing the number of buses per hour in this case by a third, while effectively increasing the number available to passengers by the same amount.

Oxford is rightly held up as an example of a good working model of dereg, where quality competition has raised the game and increased ridership. Now, though, operators are saying that there’s actually more to gain in working collaboratively than competitively.

While such an argument in a high profile competitive situation such as Oxford’s could easily send shock waves throughout the industry, there’s a certain pragmatism about it. And, in the difficult times in which we live, there’s the opportunity for economies while actually growing revenue for both businesses. Interesting indeed, given that patronage in Oxford is known to have stabilised.

It would appear that the Oxford Bus Company & Stagecoach both realise that public opinion on pedestrianisation is not on their side. And, passengers will see the sense in the operators’ coaction for a common good. Passengers have never understood deregulation and like we’ve said so many times they view the bus service as a public asset.