Experiences from different countries

Abstract

The four main aims of Workshop No.1 at the Conference were: (a) to review current approaches to the provision of bus and coach services in different countries; (b) to debate the pros and cons of alternative strategies for competition and ownership; (c) to summarise the main findings from experience across the world of moves towards increasing competition, privatisation and deregulation; and (d) to discuss the ease with which this experience from any one part of the world may be transferred to any other. The chapter reports briefly on the outcome of the Workshop's deliberation. It begins with what was seen as much the easier case of interurban/interstate coach services, where a concensus view saw advantage in quantity deregulation, more private enterprise and vigorous competition between different modes which meet all of their costs including those of environmental protection and passengers’ security. It continues with the much more difficult case of urban bus services, where the arguments for specific social subsidy, supply side tendering and selective traffic restraint are increasingly strong in the face of continually rising car‐ownership and use. It ends with some heroic scenario‐painting which describes the emerging trends and their possible consequences for the end of the century.

Key words:

• Deregulation
• privatisation
• tendering
• international comparisons