Verbal Reports from Kent County Council and local Bus Operators

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Daniel Washington, Public Transport Planner from Kent County Council (KCC), and the following representatives from Bus Operators in the district: Matthew Arnold from Arriva; Norman Kemp from Nu Venture and Brian Wharf and Austin Blackburn from Go Coach.

The Public Transport Planner (KCC) reported that:

·         Arriva had replaced the 408 service with the 478 which was operating on a temporary basis on a KCC contract

·         Go Coach 429 was now operating a Sunday service from Eynsford to Bluewater which was on a years trial basis funded through the local county Members Highway Fund

·         September 2012 saw the successful introduction of the Kent 16+ travelcard more than 3000 had been issued exceeding projected demand

·         Sevenoaks Bus Station had been refurbished through partnership working between KCC, SDC and Go Coach and would be formally opened on 25 January 2013 with County Councillor Brazier and the Leader of the District Councillor Fleming.  There was also the opportunity for the information office to be used to sell bus tickets and provide tourist information

·         North West Kent Karrier Service was due to be taken over by COMPAID

A Member asked if it were possible to see the figures for passenger numbers on routes.  In response the Public Transport Planner (KCC) advised that he could request the figures for the tendered services, but for commercial routes it would be up to the bus companies.   The 236 had introduced a Saturday service which Surrey County Council had been confident to fund.

All the Bus Operators present agreed that they were happy to share the figures.  Representatives from Go Coach reported that they had seen growth in certain routes for example, a growth in use of concessionary fares on the 421 and growth on cash fares on the 401.

 Action 1:  Bus Companies to provide passenger numbers to the next meeting they attend.

A Member queried whether the Kent 16+ travelcard had to be paid for up front, or whether there was the opportunity to pay instalments.  The Public Transport Planner from Kent County Council (KCC) was not sure, a representative from Go Coach believed that certain schools ran their own schemes to help with funding. 

Matthew Arnold, Arriva South and South Eastern, addressed the Committee.

·         With reference to the 402 service, one route had covered Bromley to Tunbridge Wells and the other Sevenoaks to Tunbridge Wells via the Weald.  Due to declining numbers Arriva had decided to stop this service, however KCC had intervened and subsidised it from a local County Members’ Highway Fund on a trial basis until April 2012.  Since then Arriva had elected to carry on the service without the subsidy until April 2014 provided there were no changes to the Freedom Pass reimbursements.  They were also looking to make amendments in the afternoon to access the Sevenoaks Rail Station

·         452 was a development funded service which ran every thirty minutes

·         478 were looking at making improvements to return times especially arrival times in Swanley, and opportunities to buy through tickets to the 477 service

·         433/531 new school service to cope with the increase in passengers due to the success of the Kent Freedom Pass

·         New buses were being used on the 402 service and a three month additional manufacturers comparative trial was underway

·         477 Orpington to Bluewater was being introduced in February 2013

·         new lower floor double deckers for the 402 and 489 services and hoping to be 100% low floor double deckers by the end of 2013

·         it was anticipated that the 308 with newer and refurbished buses by the end of the summer

·         marketing for the 402 service had generated a small increase in passengers

·         Arriva were looking at simplifying the 431 and 432 routes as were too complicated and requested Members to advise of any concerns

·         It was hope that Smartcards, similar to Oyster cards in London, would be operational by the summer. 

In response to questions he agreed to give his details to various Members to discuss particular routes and services. 

Norman Kemp, Nu Venture, advised that Nu Venture only operated a limited service within Sevenoaks District via the 404.  He acknowledged the benefits of the partnership working on the improvements to Sevenoaks bus station which had provided additional space.

Brian Wharf and Austin Blackburn from Go Coach explained that they had been heavily involved with the bus station improvements after taking it over from Arriva.  With the help of KCC and £20,000 the result was a much better refurbished information centre, a much better service canteen and therefore better working environment.  It made sense to have an information/tourist point there and fully utilise the member of staff who had to be on site all day.  They had a a meeting the following week with Sevenoaks Town Council and were working with them and the Stag Theatre on a 12 week tourist bus that would run for four days bringing publicity to the town.  He had managed to acquire a vintage Maltese vehicle which he expected to be the only operating one in the country. 

Go Coach was a small independent operating company mainly operating tendered school services.  There were eight school services, carrying 800+ students a day.  They had taken on an engineering apprentice last year from Knole Academy and hoped to possibly take on another one next year.  They had recently started operating the 429 service on a Sunday which without advertising had already gained good numbers.  Some leaflet dropping had taken place before Christmas and some more would take place over the next two weeks.  It was a service supported by the local county Members’ Highway Fund.  At the moment it was operating at 50-60 passengers, if it were possible to build it up to 80-100 it would still not be commercially viable but would be cheaper. 

A Member raised concerns of school children talking to the bus driver and standing too close to the front.  She spoken to the Police about this issue over a year ago, but was still seeing it happen.  The bus operators explained that whilst not desirable it was hard to piece and they had a good safety record.  Buses were designed for standing passengers.  However Go Coach undertook to speak to their drivers.  It was noted that health and safety reasons would prevent a form of barrier being placed in situ.

The Chairman on behalf of the Committee thanked the bus operators for attending.