Sunderland to regulate transport?

[Paper Terry]

TRANSPORT bosses are due to meet next week to consider proposals which could bring Sunderland buses back under public control – the first such scheme outside London.

If the plan by transport executive Nexus goes ahead, it will effectively bring to an end the free multimillion-pound market, bus companies such as Stagecoach, Arriva and Go Northeast have enjoyed since the 1980s.

Tyne and Wear’s Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) is due to consider a white paper about the so-called Quality Contract Scheme, drawn up by Nexus at its request.

Should the ITA agree, which its own officers have recommended it does, the paper will go to public consultation.

Under new proposals, companies would have to bid for services they would then run as a contractor of Nexus.

This would put an end to arrangements where operators can choose which routes to operate, should they wish, based on profitability.

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/busi ... -1-5874657

[Jackal]

Good. Better services instead of them pocketing the profits.