1. Operational perspective Nick Hill Commercial Development Manager Metrobus
Tex to welcome and invite introductions…

2. Metrobus Operating partner - Metrobus Go-Ahead Group company
Formed in 1983 and acquired by Go-Ahead in 1999
Around 430 buses
Around 1,400 staff
75% in London, 25% outside
3 depots
Orpington
Croydon
Crawley

3. Operator role Became partner in 2000 Sole operating partner since 2001
Role in development of system
QBP – fairly loose, goodwill
Funding of buses
Revenue risk
No access charges
100% commercial on main routes in West Sussex

4. Conflict Existing operator of Crawley bus network
Marketing message – ‘better than bus’
Other routes
Bus lanes?
Different stops?
TLP?
Route network
Impact on other services
consultants
Feeder buses?
Croydon experience

5. Route network Route 10 launched - August 2003
Completion of phase 1 works
Estates – Crawley – Manor Royal – Gatwick Airport
8 PVR, every 10 mins at most times
24 hour service introduced - May 2004
Commercial, normal fares, every 30 mins

6. Route network Route 20 launched - August 2005
Completion of phase 3 works
Three Bridges & Horley
5 PVR, every 20 mins at most times
Route 10 increased to every 8 mins - May 2008
11 PVR

7. Route network Route 100 added to Fastway family – May 2008
Existing route upgrade
Redhill & East Surrey Hospital
8 PVR, non-guided
Current total requirement – 24 plus 3 spares

8. Priority Broadfield Stadium Povey Cross Guideways and bus lanes
Slip roads not served by buses
TLP
Other areas

9. Route flexibility BRT advantage over fixed rail
Route 20 planned to follow same route as route 10
Strong demand from south Broadfield
Last minute change of route at 20 launch in 2005

10. Guideway vs bus lane Alleged guideway benefits Smoother ride?
Less land take?
Docking?
Self-enforcing?
Sexy?
Guideway issues
entry speed
guidewheels

11. The Buses User groups given opportunity to choose bus and spec
Scania Omnicity – 12m routes 10 & 20, 10m route 100
Guidewheels on 12m buses
Dual door on 12m buses
Commitment for buses to be less than five years old
Original fleet replaced and cascaded
Part leather seating with FW moquette
Little demand for air con

12. Real time information Cost Passenger benefits
Off-bus – FW project with later add on s106
On-bus – Metrobus
Passenger benefits
Displays at halts, stations, bus station, etc

13. Real time information Passenger benefits (cont) Via internet
Via mobile phones – internet, SMS and apps
On bus screens
Disruption information

14. Real time information
Operational benefits
Control centre

15. Real time information

16. Real time information Operational benefits (cont) Mobile devices
Performance monitoring
Historical data = improved schedules

17. Real time information Reliable Average over 95% tracking
Good partnership working
West Sussex CC
Supplier – ACIS
Metrobus (financial input)

18. Fares and tickets Simple, single only fare structure
In Crawley/Horley = £1.70 or £1.20 short hop
Area Metrorider ticket valid on all buses
Gatwick Travelcard
Local business sales
Offbus sales – web and PayPoint
Railbus, then Plusbus
Freezone
Move to ITSO smartcard
Multi-modal travelcard

19. Measure of success: Journey time savings
Many time savings
priority
new links
more frequent services
Examples
Bewbush to town centre: 23% reduction
Broadfield to Crawley: 26% reduction
Town Centre to heart of industrial area: 50% reduction
Gatwick Airport to heart of industrial area: 26% reduction
Protect time savings

20. Measure of success: Patronage
Two patronage targets set out in original scheme:
Target 1
4000 passengers a day in 2004
Actual
4,417 in January
5,868 in December
Target 2
Nearly 9000 passengers a day in 2008
9,016 in January
10,455 in July
Despite new developments not built

21. Measure of success: Patronage (cont)
Crawley network growth
74% between
Gatwick local staff bus mode share
5% in 1997
30% in 2009

22. Measure of success: Passenger survey
Passenger surveys every two years
Highlights from 2008:
97% satisfied with punctuality
93% satisfied with reliability
86% satisfied with cleanliness of buses
89% agreed that ‘the bus is comfortable to travel on’
96% satisfied with the service overall
8% had previously travelled by car
23% have access to a car

23. Still better than other routes?
When launched, better than other routes
New buses
RTPI
Higher frequency
Priority
Improvements mean other routes nearly caught up
Investment in fleet – 100% low floor
RTPI on all buses
Enhanced frequencies
Use of Fastway bus lanes and TLP
Inspired by Fastway?

24. Brand
Developed strong local brand, more than normal bus route

25. Room for improvement? How could Fastway have been better??
Removal of roundabouts?
Too many new traffic signals?
More bus gates?
More of budget spent on bus lanes?
Buy-in for ‘green waves’?
Shelter consistency?
Phasing?

26. Future Network growth More priority
Only on basis of new priority
(demand for route conversions)
New housing developments.
e.g. Kilnwood Vale
More priority
Improved interchanges at Gatwick and Three Bridges
Service enhancements
Smartcard… coming soon!

27. Is it BRT or BRT Lite?
Essential features are: (Source: BRTuk Handbook 2010)
Significant segregation from other forms of traffic
Priority over other vehicles in mixed traffic situations
Priority at traffic signals and priority over other traffic
High quality, safe, secure and accessible stations
High quality, smooth riding, distinctive and attractive vehicles
Easy accessibility
Vehicles and infrastructure must be environmentally friendly
High frequency, limited stop services
Efficient and user friendly ticketing

28. Is it BRT? (cont) High standards of information provision
Real time information
Good integration with other transport modes
Distinctive branding and marketing
Clear and understandable system