Arriva calls for support to deliver its vision for Merseyside

• Arriva on track to deliver pledges for 5-year vision for Merseyside buses
• 'Bus users must be given priority' – Arriva
• 'Taking no action cannot be an option' – Arriva

Arriva is today rallying its Merseyside transport partners tojoin forces to make Merseyside a transport centre ofexcellence.

The move is a year on from the start of Arriva's five-yearvision for transport success in Merseyside.

Arriva said then that it would commit up to £20 million toprovide easy access, low floor buses on all main routes servingLiverpool by 2008, and would pledge a further £25 million toprovide low floor buses on the whole of its network acrossMerseyside by 2011.

Arriva also restated its call for stronger partnerships andjoint commitments from Merseytravel and other local authoritypartners.

Arriva's call for joined-up action follows news that Merseysidewould not be able to build its tram system, at least not in timefor when it hosts the European Capital of Culture year in 2008.

Bob Hind, managing director of Arriva North West and Walessaid:

We are all aware of the disappointment felt by manythat Merseyside will not be able to build its tram system, at leastnot in the very near future.

There is another route. Buses can and will providevital transport links between key hubs and give people the freedomto travel around Merseyside without depending on cars and cloggingour roads up further.

Buses are good for the environment, are better for roadusers and the economy and good for social inclusion.

He warned against complacency and said that

taking no action cannot be an option.

He said:

We are now just two years away from being the EuropeanCapital of Culture. The eyes of the world will be upon Liverpooland its surrounding areas. It will be a milestone for Merseysideand our transport system must not fail us.

By the end of this summer Arriva will have invested a further£15 million in new vehicles on Merseyside and the surroundingareas, bringing its investment since 2000 to £55 million– on course for its pledge of £85 million by 2011 iftransport partners make commitments to bus users.

Bob Hind said:

Our new buses are great: our customers like them, ourdrivers like them and they look really impressive. They'reimproving the image of bus travel and are encouraging more peopleto jump on board.

However new buses alone are not the answer. Bus usersneed to be given priority on our roads. Our drivers have to tacklechallenging road conditions every day and it is becoming moredifficult to run to time. It is a problem, but there is a solution.Bus users must be given priority.

Arriva has proposed setting up a Merseyside Bus Board to involveMerseytravel, City and Borough Councils, the Police and LocalStrategic Partnerships.

Bob Hind said:

Only by working together with Merseytravel and thelocal authorities will our vision work. We're delivering ourpledges, however for our vision to be achieved, we need otherpartners to come on board.

We're continuing to try to secure this support from ourlocal partners.

Arriva wants a revised and revitalised multi-operator andmulti-modal ticket so that people can travel with ease andseamlessly around Merseyside's public transport, rather than havingto buy separate tickets each time they travel.

The company has also repeated its call for stringent qualitycontrols for operators that are selected to run school bus servicesthrough the local authority tendering process.

Notes to editors

• Arriva's original proposal 'Buses on Merseyside: The next five years' is available on www.arriva.co.uk
• More information about Arriva bus services on Merseyside is available from our bus website www.arrivabus.co.uk or via the dedicated Merseyside customer comment helpline 07004 277 482 (07004 A rriva ).
• From 2000 to 2005, Arriva has invested £40 million in new vehicles, improvements to depots and garages, and employee development.