Press releases

• 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 to join forces to make Merseyside a transport centre of excellence.

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

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

Arriva also restated its call for stronger partnerships and joint commitments from Merseytravel and other local authority partners.

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

Bob Hind, managing director of Arriva North West and Wales said:

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

There is another route. Buses can and will provide vital transport links between key hubs and give people the freedom to travel around Merseyside without depending on cars and clogging our roads up further.

Buses are good for the environment, are better for road users 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 European Capital of Culture. The eyes of the world will be upon Liverpool and its surrounding areas. It will be a milestone for Merseyside and 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 surrounding areas, bringing its investment since 2000 to £55 million – on course for its pledge of £85 million by 2011 if transport partners make commitments to bus users.

Bob Hind said:

Our new buses are great: our customers like them, our drivers like them and they look really impressive. They're improving the image of bus travel and are encouraging more people to jump on board.

However new buses alone are not the answer. Bus users need to be given priority on our roads. Our drivers have to tackle challenging road conditions every day and it is becoming more difficult 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 involve Merseytravel, City and Borough Councils, the Police and Local Strategic Partnerships.

Bob Hind said:

Only by working together with Merseytravel and the local authorities will our vision work. We're delivering our pledges, however for our vision to be achieved, we need other partners to come on board.

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

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

The company has also repeated its call for stringent quality controls for operators that are selected to run school bus services through 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.