Stung by lack of competition

MORE than 200 private firms, and one publically-owned one, are responsible for providing all of Scotland’s commercial bus services.

The deregulation of bus services in the 1980s took the majority of routes out of public control with the idea competition between private operators would drive down fares and the need for public subsidies.

But competition between bus operators in many areas of Scotland is virtually non-existent.

Unlike the railways, there are no time-limited franchises with performance targets. Existing legislation makes it difficult for councils to step in and take control in problem areas.

A Bill by former Labour MSP Iain Gray, which proposed giving councils more power over bus operators, including railstyle franchises, last year failed.

Transport Scotland said it had “no plans for wholesale re-regulation” but added a forthcoming Transport Bill would “include measures to further improve bus services.”