CONNECTED NORTH EAST Public Transport Priorities. March 2017

Transcription

1 CONNECTED NORTH EAST Public Transport Priorities March 2017

2 Foreword This report is very timely and makes it very clear that we need to further develop an integrated approach as to how we review and improve the public transport offering across the region. In North East England, public transport already takes more of the strain than anywhere else in England outside London. It is, therefore, really important that we build on the many positive aspects of transport in the region to address those critical issues that have been identified by the business community in this report. Some, if not all, of these issues are already high on the agenda of transport operators and local and central Government. Hence the reason we are seeing extensive investment in new and refurbished trains, as well as extra rail services, across the North (both in the Northern and InterCity East Coast franchises) and a real commitment from local bus companies to introduce innovative ticketing solutions through the development of mobile, contactless and smart ticketing solutions. Combine this with the exciting plans for the Metro (including a new fleet of trains, major investment in infrastructure and the potential for new routes) and the additional regional transport funding that was referenced in Philip Hammond s 2016 Autumn Statement, and one can readily identify the commitment from central Government to improve the infrastructure in the North East. Yet more can be done to make our transport more accessible and more sustainable. If we can get public transport right then there is a real likelihood that this will boost our region s economy. One of the main pillars of the Northern Powerhouse is the aim to improve the transport links between the North s major cities, enabling them to compete together as one major economy, rather than competing against each other. We must not fail to take this moment seriously. Yet before we can expect good connections between our neighbours in Yorkshire and the North West, we need to get it right in our region. I am therefore looking forward to continuing to work with the Chamber and businesses from across the region to establish a forum to explore and, more importantly, deliver on the needs and aspirations for the region s transport network. Kevin Bell, Transport Partner 2 3

3 We need a basic understanding from business and central/local government leaders about how transformational good public transport can be for a region. And then a commitment to Introduction follow that through. Business owner, Tees Valley, travels by public transport once a month This document sets out the views of North East England Chamber of Commerce members on public transport in the region. It follows the Chamber s recently published report on transport infrastructure investment priorities for North East England, and is part of our commitment in the Chamber s Manifesto 2017 to call for the development of a much more responsive and cohesive public transport network in the region. As well as highlighting issues and concerns, it presents some recommendations for ways to begin tackling the problems and calls on the business community to engage more actively in helping to design the future of public transport provision in North East England. The Chamber has had great success in recent years in lending the weight of the business voice to calls to improve the region s transport infrastructure in particular our road network, which is now enjoying substantial investment having suffered from decades of being overlooked by central government. Similarly, the business community can help transport operators and local authorities in North East England to improve the public transport offering in the region helping secure investment, boost demand and promote the region on the broader stage with organisations like Transport for the North. For public transport commuters, how they get to work and who provides the service they use to get there doesn t really matter. What they need to know is that it is a service they can rely on, that is punctual, resilient and good value for money. A public transport network that works for business in North East England must summon all the available resources in order to achieve that, bringing together all modes in the region bus, train, metro, taxi as well as integrating with private transport where no other option is available, to make the connections the region s economy needs to continue to grow. To gather views, we surveyed more than 200 business owners and their employees from across the region, and brought together transport operators and industry specialists with users from the retail and commercial sectors to discuss the issues they face. 4 5

4 29% The proportion of the North East population with no access to a car. (ONS) 340 miles The average distance travelled by bus each year by those in the North East. (ONS) 40% The proportion of those surveyed who say they never use public transport. (Chamber) 31% The proportion of business owners or management who said they were not comfortable for their staff to travel by public transport. (Chamber) The Challenge Public transport is a vital enabler of North East England s economy. In a region with the lowest level of household car ownership outside of London 29% of homes have no access to a car an efficient, easy to use public transport system does not just provide an alternative; for many it is the only option they have. Where public transport is unable to meet needs, it imposes a limitation on economic growth, preventing businesses from reaching the full pool of skilled labour, new markets and potential customers. In North East England, public transport already takes more of the strain than anywhere else in England outside London. In the region we make 7.1% fewer trips by car than others around the country, and travel almost 100 miles more annually by bus. Our journeys are longer too, with the average business-related trip in the North East covering 28.2 miles and taking 49 minutes, compared to 21.4 miles and 41 minutes in the rest of England outside of London. Those longer journeys are a necessary result of our regional geography, with further to travel between our urban centres and a population spread across smaller settlements in more rural locations. An Underused Resource The overall picture of car ownership in the region is reflected in Chamber member businesses and their employees, where just over a quarter (27%) say they use public transport every day. Despite that, and despite the vital role public transport plays in the region s economy, four in ten (40%) of Chamber member business owners and their employees say they never use public transport, with four in ten (40%) saying the need to travel during the working day prevents them from using it. Public transport in North East England, it seems, experiences quite a stark divide between those who use and rely on it every day, and those for whom it is not an option they even consider. For many this will be the result of public transport not serving their workplace a prohibitive and structural problem, which one in five Chamber members and their employees cite as an issue but for some it will be a matter of lack of confidence or a need to challenge perceptions. Properly integrating public transport and private transport makes it a no-brainer to use public transport in urban areas. Works from home, Tyne and Wear, travels by public transport once a week 6 7

5 Improved, integrated ticketing with realistic fares, so that one ticket can Building Trust Addressing the concerns of those who do not feel public transport is a viable option for them will require building trust with potential users, improving services and improving perceptions. Almost a third (31%) of Chamber members who own a business or are in a managerial role said they would not be comfortable with their staff travelling by public transport, with concerns over punctuality (69%), reliability (64%) and flexibility (43%) being the prime reasons why. But with a significant minority who do not use public transport, these views may be based just as much on preconceptions which need challenging than on real life experience of how staff travel to work. Making Connections Businesses do not appear to feel they currently have a role in improving public transport, seeing central and local government and the transport operators themselves as responsible. While delivery of the service may sit with these traditional bodies, business cannot be passive and must play a role in ensuring public transport is responsive to their needs and that where it is important to them they promote its use and are flexible, both with employees who use it and with operators who must make best use of the resources available to them. Building connections between businesses and transport operators will play an important part in allowing improvement of public transport in North East England. be used on rail, bus and metro. Employee, Tyne and Wear, travels by public transport two-to-three times a week 8 9

6 Trust, Information and Improvisation Cross-provider Overall satisfaction among commuters in North East England is relatively high, with Transport Focus finding 91% of bus commuters in Tyne and Wear, 85% of bus commuters in Tees Valley and an average of 86% of rail commuters across the region s franchises are satisfied with their service. But among the Chamber members surveyed, views were split, with similar proportions feeling public transport in the region was poor or very poor (31%) as felt it was good or very good (28%). Despite this, the power of good public transport was recognised, with half (49%) saying they would be more likely to invest in an area as a result of good public transport, and four in ten (40%) believing improving public transport would have the single biggest impact on improving the region s transport connectivity overall. The challenge is a significant one. The top five issues facing public transport in North East England as identified by Chamber members are: 1) Cost of tickets 2) Reliability 3) Problems with gaps in the network (e.g. lack of rural services) 4) Punctuality 5) Difficulty making connections between modes (e.g. bus to train) The issue of cost and value for money is one which is also found in research carried out by Transport Focus, who found only 58% of rail commuters in the region, 61% of bus commuters in Tees Valley and 71% of bus commuters in Tyne and Wear thought their service was good value for money, despite the North East enjoying some of the lowest average fares in the country (TAS Partnership). Of course, this equation is partly about price and partly about quality of service. Concerns over cost of tickets is related to perceptions of value for money. These perceptions can be influenced by a range of factors, including complexity of ticketing options and lack of flexibility. Concerns over reliability and punctuality, as well as problems with gaps in the network, are as much about the underlying transport environment, congestion and the ability to improvise when something goes wrong or plans change during the day, as they are about the service an operator provides. These issues may also be acting as a barrier to growing public transport usage, with confusion around routes and ticketing, and a lack of confidence that the service can do what it is needed to do, preventing new and occasional users from becoming regular passengers. Key Facts 85% The proportion of Tees Valley bus commuters satisfied with their service. (Transport Focus) 49% Half of Chamber members would be more likely to invest in an area with good public transport. (Chamber) 40% The proportion of those surveyed who say improving public transport would have the single biggest impact on improving the region s transport connectivity overall. (Chamber) 0% No respondents feel business currently has a role in trying to improve public transport. (Chamber) collaboration one central point for information, booking, payment, ticketing, times etc. It makes the user journey clearer, easier and encourages return use. Employee, Tees Valley, never travels by public transport 10 11

7 Simple and Integrated Much work has been done in recent years to bring North East England s public transport network together, for example, with the POP pay as you go smartcard for use on the Tyne and Wear Metro and on bus services operated by Go North East, Arriva and Stagecoach across Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, County Durham and the Tees Valley. In Tyne and Wear, a fully integrated option exists and has done for many years, with the Network One ticket scheme allowing for multi-modal, multi-operator travel across bus, metro, train and ferry services, and has done for many years. Despite this, just 15% of those Chamber members surveyed believe public transport in North East England functions well or very well as a single network, as opposed to individual companies or routes, with 54% believing it functions poorly or very poorly. This suggests the message is yet to resonate, or that negotiating the relevant information isn t yet easy enough to do. Three-quarters (75%) of Chamber members surveyed said they would go to the operator s website for information on routes and fares, with just 10% saying they would go to other websites. This may work well when you know the route you want to take and who operates it as do operator-specific mobile apps but by going directly to the operator, passengers are only able to access a segment of what is available in the whole public transport network. A lack of appreciation of the network as a whole may lead to concerns around the resilience of public transport, and also feed concerns around efficiency of journeys and value for money. A single source of information is vital to allowing travellers in North East England to make the best decision over how to undertake their journey, be that by bus, metro, train, taxi, private car or a combination of modes. The ability to support those making journeys by multiple modes is crucial in this region, where public transport will always struggle to cater for the entirety of the region, especially rural areas. The Chamber members surveyed highlighted this disparity between rural and urban provision, with just 6% feeling public transport in rural areas was good or very good compared to 46% in urban areas. Addressing this will mean ensuring the facilities are in place for people to make journeys easily by multiple modes more park and ride facilities at rail and metro stations, more facilities for taxis for people making the last leg of their journey off the route network and more flexibility from employers where buses or trains are infrequent. Living in County Durham and working in Tyne and Wear it s very expensive to use public transport as I cross over so many boundaries. It would be great if there was one ticket for all of the North East. Employee, Tyne and Wear, travels by public transport every day I'd get buses much more if I knew how much it was going to cost and/or there was an easy way to pay. Employee, Tyne and Wear, travels by public transport every day 12 13

8 Making Connections and Working Together Delivering changes that work for the business community and are feasible within the constraints of transport operator and local authority resources will require working closely together. Public transport across the country has come under pressure from shrinking budgets, and in the case of bus travel, falling passenger numbers. Growing the network and improving services against this backdrop will require greater efficiency as well as efforts to increase demand. Businesses must step up and be part of the conversation too, advocating for the services they need and helping operators and local authorities with initiatives to boost demand, as well as showing sufficient flexibility where it can help achieve more with limited resources. Flexible working, changing shift patterns and working with neighbouring businesses to identify untapped demand can all allow employees more opportunity to travel by public transport. Meeting regularly and establishing these channels of communication will help build trust in the public transport network, and begin to address concerns. Tackling Congestion In urban areas, congestion is becoming a threat to effective on-road public transport including both scheduled bus routes and on-demand taxi services. Research by transport-sector data specialists INRIX has found more than 100 traffic hotspots in the Tyne and Wear area alone, and the issue of congestion has been raised by campaign group Greener Journeys as critical to the future of the bus industry. Greener Journeys call for efforts to increase the speed of bus journeys in urban areas through interventions like bus priority schemes and cashless fares to reduce stop dwell times. The exact interventions required will differ from area to area, and must be designed by bringing together operators, local authorities and other stakeholders to identify the best options in each case. Reducing journey times and building consistency in urban journeys will reduce the resource required to run them for example where additional vehicles have been added to routes in peak hours to maintain frequency. Freeing up this resource would allow it to be directed elsewhere, towards rural or longer distance routes, or more tailored services. Designing Solutions As well as working together to manage existing issues, the business community should also help operators and local authorities look to the future. North East England is an ideal testbed for cutting-edge approaches to public transport, as is evidenced by the good work already occurring with mobile, contactless and smart ticketing across the region. Building the provinence of these innovations will help to position the region within the wider North of England as the region best suited to partner with organisations like Transport for the North as they seek to develop a vision of the future of transport. With a thriving digital and creative sector, as well as world-leading research across the region s universities, North East England can harness these assets to tackle some of the challenges facing the transport industry whether that s getting information to passengers when and how they need it, identifying issues on the road network, or working to improve perceptions. With huge quantities of data collected by local authorities and bus operators on things like journey times, traffic hotspots and passenger travel patterns an incredibly powerful first step would be to bring this data to the table and allow those with the expertise and the interest to interrogate it and find uses for it. Businesses are holders of data too, on their employees, where they live and where they travel especially in larger organisations with dedicated green travel planning initiatives. Where appropriate, this data should be used to help operators design services, identifying areas of latent demand, as well as areas where businesses do not tend to recruit from

9 The Vision There needs to be more Public transport must be lifted in the estimation of businesses in North East England if it is to be viewed as a viable alternative and if the benefits it brings are to be felt across the region and its economy. Crucially, good public transport is a catalyst for improvements elsewhere, not just in terms of improvements to transport infrastructure, but also in making businesses more likely to invest in a region. As it stands, businesses in the region recognise the impact improvements to public transport could have, but not the role they can play in achieving them. As transport is an enabler of a regional economy and in this region, a more significant enabler than anywhere else in the country outside of London businesses must be vocal in expressing the ways in which public transport must change to better meet their needs. It is possible to identify three key areas where improvements could be made, on the one hand, challenge the perceptions of public transport within the existing network and provision, and on the other, ensure that future changes reflect the needs of businesses in the region. A Single Source of Reliable Information To ensure non-users and non-locals can use the North East s public transport system, all information must be easily accessible. While great progress has been made in this regard, even the most familiar of public transport users will struggle if forced to improvise for example by a stop or station closure without the ability to replan their journey or access diversion information that takes account of all the options. This should include different routes, different modes and real time information on services and any disruptions, as well as ticketing and fare information. A Single, Flexible Ticketing System Users tend to be agnostic over who they are travelling with for them it is purely a matter of travelling from A to B. Operator-specific ticketing limits the ability of users to vary their journeys and travel using different operators even where journeys are occurring along the same corridors. Simplifying the process involved in transitioning between modes is also key with greater promotion for through ticketing or schemes such as PlusBus needed, as well as the establishment of an option for multi-operator, multi-modal ticketing across the region. This should also include payment methods and looking to move beyond the need to carry cash and print paper tickets to travel. This might include the extension of pay as you go smartcard ticketing, or the adoption of contactless or mobile ticketing. connectivity and communication between types of public transport. Price, reliability and availability seem the biggest negatives. We should look to European countries for lessons. Employee, Tees Valley, never travels by public transport A Continuing Dialogue Between Business Community and Transport Operators and Providers It is vital to establish better connections between local businesses and transport operators. This shouldn t just focus on consultation on changes, but go further especially with large employers or developers who may be big influencers of demand for public transport services. It should include a genuine dialogue over route design and the improving of services for example, how to better integrate transport with shift changes at employment sites or better understanding the travel patterns and flows to key sites in peak hours. Where black spots in the network exist, and traditional public transport is not able to serve them effectively, efforts should be made to find an alternative solution, for example through the use of taxibus or private hire

10 By Business, for Business Public transport operators, as well as providing a service which is integral to the functioning of the region s economy, are also large employers and significant investors in their own right. The region s bus operators, although their services are closely linked with local government in the minds of users, have been investing heavily in new services and new vehicles. Go North East, for example, have invested more than 3m in the first few months of 2017 to bring more than 20 new vehicles to services in Durham and Gateshead, while at the end of last year Stagecoach North East added 18 new vehicles to services in Newcastle. Improving public transport is not just a matter for local government, it needs the business community transport operators included to be engaged in asking not just for what they need, but also for offering up solutions. The Importance of Infrastructure In order for this vision for North East England s public transport network to be realised, it is vital the region has the necessary infrastructure in place. North East England has long suffered from underinvestment in its infrastructure, and despite recent progress in particular in improving the region s roads there is still a long way to go before the imbalance in funding between the north and south of the country is corrected. It s vital that, as a region, we continue to push for the improvements we need to allow our economy to flourish. The Chamber recently published a report which highlighted our members priorities for infrastructure investment in the region, and identified the role this played in delivering the connectivity the region needs. A number of these will have a direct impact on the provision of public transport, with work needed to relieve congestion on our roads, enhance capacity on our railways and ensure local transport has the assets it needs not least in the form of a new train fleet for the Tyne and Wear Metro. Below are some of the transport infrastructure and investment projects required to deliver the vision for public transport outlined in this report: Investment in a new train fleet for the Tyne and Wear Metro, allowing it to continue serving its vital role in the regional economy, and to unlock the potential for growth both in terms of passenger numbers and additional routes Improved surface access to our region s airports, including upgrades to the Newcastle International Airport Metro station Investment to reduce capacity constraint on the East Coast Mainline, in particular between Northallerton and Newcastle We need equality of investment for the North compared to the South East per passenger/per mile travelled from national government into transport infrastructure schemes, buses and rolling stock. Employee, Tyne and Wear, travels by public transport every day Investment in the Tees Valley Combined Authority s Darlington 2025 vision for Darlington Station Improve connectivity to neighbouring northern cities, including by investment in High Speed Rail and an eastern leg of HS

11 Summary and Next Steps Top five issues facing Getting public transport in North East England right presents a huge opportunity to boost the region s economy. Better public transport means businesses can reach a wider pool of potential staff, and be better connected with customers and clients across the region. This document should be the start of a conversation and a call for businesses in the region to speak louder about their needs both for transport in the region, and across the wider North of England. Key Findings The view of Chamber members on public transport in North East England is split, with as many feeling the service is poor or very poor as feel it is good or very good More than half (54%) feel the current public transport system functions either poorly or very poorly as a single network Half (49%) say good public transport would make them more likely to invest in a region Businesses do not currently feel they have a role in trying to improve public transport Congestion in urban areas is a key issue for punctuality, reliability and use of operator resources Information provision, particularly on alternative routes and modes should disruption occur, is crucial to building trust in the network Through harnessing the data held by operators and local authorities alongside the skills in the region s businesses, technology has a big role to play in improving transport and passenger experience A Three Part Vision A single source of reliable information A single, flexible ticketing system A continuing dialogue between business community and transport operators and providers Next Steps It is not for the Chamber or the business community to outline the exact form a public transport network should take, nor the mechanisms used to get there, but it is important to present the needs and aspirations of businesses in the region as one of the key stakeholders as public transport in the North East improves. It s also vital to see individual businesses take a more vocal role in advocating for their needs they know their staff and customers best, and without those lines of communication, local authorities and transport operators are basing decisions on just part of the information they need to create the best possible public transport system for the region. As such, in addition to outlining the desired vision for information and ticketing above, there are two immediate next steps to help the business community take a more active role: Establish a forum for businesses, developers, local authorities and transport operators to meet regularly to discuss public transport and help businesses take a more active role A transport technology showcase for operators and local authorities to talk about their challenges and local businesses to suggest ways technology can help solve those issues public transport, according to Chamber members: 1) Cost of tickets 2) Reliability 3) Problems with gaps in the network 4) Punctuality 5) Difficulty making connections between modes 20 21

12 T W. neechamber.co.uk Aykley Heads, Durham DH1 5TS