| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:CrossRail and Station Access | |
| Posted by: | Chris Veasey | |
| Date/Time: | 02/10/09 13:38:00 |
| Yes, and it's not just the disparity in resources London vs the rest but in POWERS, particularly as regards bus services. The ludicrous deregulation and forced privatisation of bus services in the rest of the country has resulted in higher fares, poorer services and much larger profit margins for the big bus operators outside London. The 'cliff edge' effect is most keenly felt in places like Epsom just outside the hallowed boundary, where punters are only too well aware of the generous concessionary travel and heavily subsidided fares and services Londoners enjoy but which they are denied. The fact that with all that money and power TfL still can't or won't provide a proper standard of service at stops as well as in-vehicle makes it all the more scandalous. But TfL is at least able to use its powers at the regulating transport authority to keep bus service contract prices down to reasonable levels - as evidenced by the sudden complete withdrawal fromthe London bus service market a few years ago of the Pictish Plutocrats from Perth - they could make much higher profit margins from running deregulated services to even lower standards elsewhere in the country. |