Quality bus services

The Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) commissioned Mott MacDonald to research the Quality Bus concept as a means of encouraging a transfer of trips from car to bus. The paper sets out the reasons for exploring the idea and the nature of a Quality Bus package, and illustrates aspects of quality bus operation already in operation. It examines the partnerships necessary between public transport authorities, highway authorities and bus operators necessary to bring the concept to fruition in a deregulated bus environment, and the extent to which Quality Bus services can be introduced under current legislation.