News from the DFT  watch video below:  New legislation, will come into force on 11th January 2010, which will give local authorities including the Isle of Wight, new powers to put passengers first by allowing them to decide which bus services are required locally before entering into contracts with operators to run those services.

Local authorities throughout England will be given tough new powers to determine routes, timetables, fares and other aspects of bus services through Quality Contracts Schemes (QCS), which are the London-style model of bus franchising.   Powers could  include performance targets for operators and make sanctions against contract operators who fail to meet those targets. Those sanctions might include financial penalties or, in extreme situations, termination of the contract.

Currently QCS in England are only allowed under very restrictive conditions and with the approval of the Secretary of State. Thanks to provisions in the Local Transport Act 2008, English local authorities will now have the freedom to decide whether QCS are right for their area.

Transport Minister Sadiq Khan stated in the video:

“Buses are, and will remain, the most important public transport option for most local journeys.

“Although there are many examples of high-quality bus provision throughout the country, there are still too many places where services are falling short of the standards that passengers have a right to expect.

“The announcement sends out a clear message to the bus industry – it is absolutely imperative that decisions about services in the local community have passengers’ interests firmly at the core.”

DfT also announced that it has started recruiting a QCS Board panel.   QCS boards will provide an impartial opinion as to whether QCS proposals meet the statutory public interest criteria and that due process has been followed.

The relevant publications are available for download at: www.dft.gov.uk/localtransportact

Island Pulse related News: Free Bus Pass Money Too Little Too Late and Consultation Into Fairer Funding For Free Bus Pass