Working in partnership in rural areas
Moving People (sponsored by Arriva)
Without busses life would be a prison. I'm Jean Gwin. I'm disabled and, apart from my scooter, the bus is a lifeline for me.
I can look at the scenery, and from a bus you see things that you'd never notice in a car.
I'm Malcolm Miles, and for me the rural line 481 service is a lifeline.
Announcer
This is more than a meandering local bus service. For people in rural areas, the Arriva rural line 481, is a lifeline, running between Stafford and Telford via Newport, through beautiful countryside every half-hour. But the 481 is also a public private partnership that's going places, thanks to local councils and Arriva buses working together.
Malcolm Miles
I think most people, and particularly myself and my family, would say it's an excellent service. It's a pity it didn't come 20 years ago, but it really is a brilliant service, and it's so accessible, and the half-hour service means you can, literally, hop on it and hop off it, and if you come into, really till quite late, at Stafford Station, you know there's a bus going to be along in 10-20 minutes to bring you back into Newport.
Presenter
Once on board, passengers can sit back and enjoy the view. But, for some people, such as those with mobility difficulties or the disabled, getting on and off the bus can be difficult, and that's where Local Authorities come in.
Announcer
Along the route the Council's have paid for raised ‘kassell’ kerbs, and the buses themselves can be lowered. Innovations designed to make the journey easier.
They've got the low floors and I find it much easier to get on and off. I haven't got to get up the steps. I couldn't.
John Wakefield, Staffordshire County Council
Our role is to invest in infrastructure for the use of these services, so people have somewhere decent to stand while they're waiting for the bus.
Announcer
An example of that, the village of Horton where residents wanted a wooden bus shelter instead of a steel and glass one. They got it. When it gets to Telford the bus is boss. At some busy junctions the lights are programmed to change for buses in their own dedicated lanes.
Presenter
But the big bus isn't the whole picture, because they link up with smaller buses serving local communities. The idea is to give people in the countryside an integrated transport system.
Announcer
The smaller mini buses are funded by the various Councils along the way, and timed to connect with the 481. But the Councils agree it's Arriva that are at the heart of this initiative.
Meredith Evans, Borough of Telford & Wrekin Council
We found the relationship excellent. It's been a meeting of minds. We understand their commercial needs; they understand the needs of the people of the Borough of Telford. We've found a way of working that makes commercial sense to them and delivers improvements on the ground, and the proof is actually in the usage, which has gone up considerable on these key routes, and we are delighted.
Mike Cooper, Managing Director, Arriva UK Regional Bus
Both parties were prepared to take some risks. The Councils invested in some new vehicles on our behalf. We committed, over a five-year period, to double frequency of services, to keep services going till 11 o'clock at night, till midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, so there was some joint risk-taking, but then mutual benefits as a result.
Announcer
And the results speak for themselves. Already the project's won an National Transport award and helped one of the Councils involved, Telford and Wrekin, achieve beacon status. But it's bums on seats that really count.
I'm surprised every time I go. The number of passengers is increasing week by week, year by year, and I think people are becoming familiar with it, both ways, to Stafford and to Telford, and I think it will continue.
Mike Cooper, Managing Director, Arriva UK Regional Bus
We've seen passenger numbers go up demonstrably, an 83% increase in the first 12 months alone.
Announcer
Providing a consistent, regular service, local connections and enhanced infrastructure is paying dividends for the bus operator, the Local Authorities and, most importantly of all, the people who use it.
Well, I'm going to my daughter's. This is the only we can keep in touch.
It's excellent because otherwise I wouldn't be able to get into work on time.
I think it's a very good service, because it picks me up right outside my house and takes me near enough to work, which is great.
John Wakefield, Staffordshire County Council
I think we're running at something like 80% satisfaction level, which is good, because everybody's ambition is to have cheaper, more frequent public transport. But, certainly, to get that sort of satisfaction level suggests that we may be on the right line.
Mike Cooper, Managing Director, Arriva UK Regional Bus
It's a progressive attitude where a commercial vehicle like Arriva can work in conjunction with public policy-minded Local Authorities, be it UK or across Europe, most certainly.
Announcer
Working together, Arriva and the Councils have learned they can make a real difference to the lives of those in rural areas without being a burden on the tax payer. They're partnerships that can keep local people moving in England's green and bus-served land.
