New Bus

[andel]

Ah fair enough. Of course £3.50 in Birmingham is almost the cost of a return or day ticket anyway. Not to mention that season tickets are heavily discounted.

What I do understand from BCW is just how important BSOG is. With the current cuts and operators up in arms, it must be quite a significant amount.

Its a significant cut, and the elements of additional funding for having ITSO and hybrid elements is considered to be a kick in the teeth - the cost of investment is never fully recouped.

[John]

My car stops at my house and at my destination. Public transport doesn't.
My car costs me around 2700 euros per year for around 10000 km, including petrol, insurance and maintenance (not counting devaluation of the thing itself). An unlimited public transport pass would set me back 4190.50 euros a year 2nd class or 6697.50 a year 1st class.

So public transport may be cost efficient, but certainly not for me as a customer. End of discussion.

My journey to work is 21 miles. That's 42 a day, 210 per week.

Current cost of diesel is £1.46. My car does 60mpg on a motorway, but unfortunately the Bristol ring road is full of roundabouts - actually averages around 45mpg.

All in all, my monthly fuel bill is £120. A monthly train pass is £150. Journey times will be similar - train station at work is on the door, but unfortunately at home it isn't, so will either need to include bus, or cycle (minor hill issues).

When driving, I can listen to the radio. On the train I can read, browse the intertubes, work.

So, even only considering fuel costs, public transport is a competitive alternative for my commute.

And that doesn't include the maintenance, service and insurance costs for a car doing 12000miles (20000km) a year.

This is also in the south west of england, an area not typically known for affordable transport.

[doktorhonig]

My car stops at my house and at my destination. Public transport doesn't.
My car costs me around 2700 euros per year for around 10000 km, including petrol, insurance and maintenance (not counting devaluation of the thing itself). An unlimited public transport pass would set me back 4190.50 euros a year 2nd class or 6697.50 a year 1st class.

If you only go 10000km, you most certainly don't need an unlimited train pass for an entire country. If you get one for your city, it will most likely be around 500 Euro (correct me), and maybe 1000 - 1500 Euros for some longer rides. I can only estimate , but e.g. a ticket from Vienna to Linz costs 31 Euros for 190 km which would make 1631 Euros for 10000 km. Given that you aleady do some km with your city pass, it's most likely cheaper. But of course, it's your decision. Comparing an unlimited train pass with 10000km (which is clearly below average) seems a bit awkward though.

So public transport may be cost efficient, but certainly not for me as a customer. End of discussion.

Of course, from the point that you already own and maintain a car, the actual costs of using it, are low.

[AndersI]

The investments to make such transport routes are gigantic - £18 billion for Crossrail! I do wonder if the government believes such projects will pay part of the construction cost off, let alone break even when operating them.

As a lot of that cost are wages, direct or indirect, as long as the people involved live in the same country, pay tax in the same country and spend their wages in the same country, a big part is not 'real money' for the government. 'Real money' is money leaving the country.

[teccuk]

I'm all for ripping up just about every railway track in the country and replacing them with busways.

People call me heathen.

I must get round to the developing the idea in a blog.

[andel]

I'm all for ripping up just about every railway track in the country and replacing them with busways.

People call me heathen.

I must get round to the developing the idea in a blog.

And you'll get a warning for trolling, too....

[teccuk]

I'm all for ripping up just about every railway track in the country and replacing them with busways.

People call me heathen.

I must get round to the developing the idea in a blog.

And you'll get a warning for trolling, too....

You're joking right?

I'm deadly serious about this!

And my record on 'trolling' is impeccable.

[orudge]

Why not just rip up all the railways and replace them with nice roads? Then any vehicle can use them, instead of just buses!

[Pilot]

Why not just rip up all the railways and replace them with nice roads? Then any vehicle can use them, instead of just buses!

Planes, Trains and Automobiles can't, JK. But in all seriousness, Planes, Trains, Trams and Boats can't. Though Alan Fry would make all roads able to carry all of these.