News / Transport
Metrobus may need public subsidies to run
The group behind Bristol’s Metrobus has told the BBC that public money might have to be used in order to find an operator to run the service.
Metrobus requires companies to run the service on a completely commercial basis and First Bus, Wessex and the Bath Bus Company are understood to be interested in running the service.
A spokeswoman for the West of England Partnership (WEP), an alliance between the four councils in Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset, told the BBC they were “actively negotiating” with bus operators and such discussions were commercially sensitive.
is needed now More than ever
“We have always been clear that the aim is that the MetroBus services are run entirely on a commercial basis via a quality partnership scheme that sets minimum standards for frequencies, quality of vehicles and maximum fares, supported by a voluntary partnership agreement with one or more operator.
“Of course should negotiations not be successful, we have a range of back up plans which could include formal contracts to run all or some services on a contracted basis.
“This might require the use of public money following a competitive procurement process, but this would depend on the situation when negotiations conclude – which all parties agree should be in about three-four weeks’ time.”
Read more: A year of Metrobus delays
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