The First Minister’s programme for government has flopped already, less than 24 hours after he announced it, as he faces letting down thousands of Scots over bus fares, according to the Scottish Daily Express
by LUCY ASHTON
John Swinney proudly announced that his promised £2 bus fare cap will be introduced in Strathclyde and the west of Scotland on Monday. But new revelations have shed doubt on this policy, with bus operators yet to agree deals with Transport Scotland to accept the proposals.
The Scottish Government must give a “cast iron guarantee” that the price cap will actually be in place by Monday, Scottish Labour has said. Transport spokesman Daniel Johnson, left, said: “It beggars belief that the SNP hasn’t actually done the work to deliver its big announcement on bus fares
“If the SNP government fails to deliver the fare cap promised by Monday, it would be an astonishing broken promise and an appalling start to the new term. John Swinney must come clean and clarify exactly how many bus operators are signed up to the scheme so far. The SNP must give a cast-iron guarantee that their policy will be delivered in full – for all local journeys across these regions. It’s time for John Swinney and the SNP to drop the spin and the gimmicks and focus on delivering for the people of Scotland.”
It is unlikely that it will be rolled out across the rest of Scotland until 2031, meaning a postcode lottery for buses. The FM’s Programme for Government document states the “national rollout of £2 bus fares” would be done “by the end of this parliament” in 2031.
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We have engaged closely with bus operators on the £2 fare cap scheme and grant offer letters are now being issued. Participation in the scheme is voluntary, and operators will make their own decisions on joining based on the terms offered.
“The cost of living remains one of the biggest challenges facing households across Scotland, which is why making public transport more affordable through the £2 bus fare cap is such an important priority for the Scottish Government.
The £2 bus fare will start this coming Monday morning with participating operators in the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport area.”
Taxpayer funded free travel for the senior citizen is an inspired policy. The benefits, economic, social and environmental hugely outweigh the cost of the subsidy.
The problem however in expansion is the nature of the bus company ownership and how particular companies and their routes, bus frequency and passenger volumes are impacted by a £2.00 fare.
The calls by certain politicos decrying this and decrying that are superficial ya boo criticism that reinforces how absolutely little they know about how the so called ” public transport bus system ” runs. They know nothing of traffic modelling or income modelling which across the country, and especially in the granularity of different areas and routes is utterly complicated. But troughers at the trough as so many politicos are have a big mouth which is not just for eating.
A good initiative but sadly the various commercial operators need their corporate palms crossed with the appropriate level of silver, and that is a complex reality that the ya boo Brigade don’t understand.