SPT Approve Shift from Private to Public Control. What Now?
The Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) gave the green light to proposed reforms that could completely transform Glasgow’s bus services. This decision marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing campaign by Get Glasgow Moving to revolutionise transportation in the city. But what does this mean and what’s next?
Words by Devon McCole | Photos by Ian McLellan
For anyone who’s waited on Vicky Road for the number 5 bus into town and then found it was too full to get on, or simply whizzed past you altogether with a ‘not in service’ sign after a long wait, you may be pleased to know there have been some positive developments in the long-drawn call for better buses.
The Better Buses for Strathclyde campaign, launched in 2016 by grassroots organisation Get Glasgow Moving (GGM), has taken a massive step towards reforming public transport here in the city.
On March 15, campaigners from groups like GGM gathered outside the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s (SPT) offices as they awaited their decision on the proposed transport reforms persistently put forward to them by campaigners. In the afternoon, SPT announced that they approved options for bus reform and have agreed to start working on regulating private bus companies.
This is big news for those who have continued to put pressure on both SPT and the government since the campaign began eight years ago, as the announcement is set to usher in one of the biggest changes to bus services in Glasgow (and the rest of the Strathclyde region) since they were deregulated by Margaret Thatcher in the 80s.
What do these reforms actually mean?
Since public transport was privatised and fell under the control of private firms, public transport in Glasgow and the surrounding areas has suffered from increasingly high fares (the highest in the UK) and poorly connected routes.
Shifting from private to public control could mean transport firms like SPT would have to compete with other firms to win contracts for certain services. This is a game-changer for bus users and means the public authority that awards contracts for bus services can also dish out fines for subpar services, or even terminate contracts altogether. This creates a much needed incentive to prioritise the public’s needs over the shareholders’.
We asked Get Glasgow Moving, the organisation behind the campaign, what Southsiders could expect from a reformed bus service and a spokesperson responded: “A big issue for Southsiders right now is not having integration between train and bus; if you want to travel into town by bus and back by train you have to pay twice. Once the new plans are rolled out, passengers will be able to easily hop from bus to train and only pay up to an affordable daily price cap.”
Local resident Olivia told Greater Govanhill: “I’m really happy about the announcement from SPT. I’ll probably benefit the most from the capped fares, personally I think public transport should be free but this is definitely a step in the right direction. It’s about time that public transport in Glasgow works for the people and not the profiteers who I doubt even use it.”
Who are SPT and what are they saying?
SPT is at the centre of the Strathclyde region’s transport planning and they cover 12 wards, including Glasgow. From the Subway, to trains and buses SPT’s role is to deliver transport solutions in conjunction with the Scottish Government and industry partners. Their job is analysing the travel needs of the public and developing a transport system that answers to those needs.
Following the announcement, SPT’s Chair Councillor Stephen Dornan (SNP) released a statement saying: “This is a bold and ambitious plan from SPT which sets a strong approach to deliver a network that is attractive, accessible, and affordable to passengers in our communities who rely on the bus to get around.
“However, any franchising option will take time and investment to establish so we need to look at doing something now to halt the declining bus market. Bus Service Improvement Partnerships (BSIP), which also require suitable investment, offer the best opportunity for a significant, interim improvement while we work to establish the world-class local bus franchise model the people of the West of Scotland deserve.”
What are campaigners saying?
Two days after SPT’s announcement, GGM took to social media to thank their supporters and everyone who made it along to their Rally For Public Control the day SPT met with their partners to discuss the future of public transport in the Strathclyde region. They also made it very clear that the battle hasn’t been won yet and their work is far from over.
Ellie Harrison, Chair of GGM, told Greater Govanhill: “Until now, we hadn't heard SPT acknowledge that the deregulated public transport system is a failure and we have been campaigning for this for years, but following the announcement that they will begin regulating the services again, it’s clear as day the system isn’t working as it should.
“I don’t think they would have done so without the pressure from GGM and the support of the people of Glasgow, so whilst it is big news and we are all really happy that we are moving in the right direction, it will still be another two or more years before roll-out even starts.”
What happens next?
In the meantime, GGM are turning their attention towards making sure the plans to regulate private bus companies and set up a single public authority in charge of transport, comes to fruition without unwanted interference.
GGM have stated that they now want to challenge the SPT’s proposal to sign a BSIP with private bus companies: “[A BSIP would] essentially lock us into the current failing bus system for years to come…bringing private companies to the table gives them too big a voice which could risk sabotaging plans for franchising and setting up a new public operator altogether.”
Through this lens, the BSIP is seen as an attempt to stall the commencement of transport reform whilst still pandering to private companies by bringing them to the table to discuss a transport system they have already agreed to shift from private to public control. Campaigners claim this would be a waste of thousands of pounds and years of planning. GGM are demanding that SPT instead focuses its time and resources on accelerating the process of taking the region’s buses back into public control, rather than hindering it.
The next step in the campaign is SPT’s public consultation on the proposals approved by their board on March 15. This will run for six weeks from around 5 April . During this time GGM will be asking all of their supporters to say no to the BSIP and demand a public transport service they can take pride in.
The Better Buses for Strathclyde petition is still live at 10,323 signatures. If you would like to add your name then follow the link Take Strathclyde’s Buses back into Public Control | Megaphone UK for updates regarding the public consultation, which will be sent directly to sign-ups.