THE INITIAL EFFECTS OF THE 1985 TRANSPORT ACT IN THE METROPOLITAN AREAS

The report is structured into 5 sections. Section 1 explains the changes, the phasing of implementation, changes in the metropolitan areas and financial background to the deregulation. Section 2 discusses predictions made for and against bus deregulation. Deregulation was supposed to result in greater efficiency by encouraging competition, reducing costs and fares, and improving services. Against deregulation, it was argued that conditions of competition required to produce benefits did not and could not exist in the bus industry and that benefits deriving from a regulated system would be lost. Section 3 deals with competition and assesses whether a competitive environment is emerging following bus deregulation. Section 4 examines the effects of deregulation so far on costs, fares and ticketing, concessionary fares, service levels, innovation, patronage, information and marketing, congestion and unreliability. Conclusions are presented in Section 5. For the covering abstract of the publication see IRRD 811236. (TRRL)